Chiropractic and Medicaid

Senate Bill 2840, spun by its drafters as the "Save Medicaid Access and Resources Together (SMART) Act,” has been passed by both houses of the Illinois legislature and is on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature. Despite vigorous lobbying efforts by the Illinois ChiropracticSociety and other health care provider groups, this bill limits and eliminates Medicaid coverage for a number of health care services. Unfortunately, Medicaid coverage for adult chiropractic services will be terminated effective July 1, 2012. However, at this time it appears that existing coverage for child chiropractic services (services for Medicaid-covered children under the age of 21) will not be affected by this legislation.

Chiropractic is not alone, in that the bill also eliminates or limits coverage for occupational therapy, physical therapy, podiatry services, dental services adult eyeglasses, adult speech, hearing and language therapy and other services. Although the legislature has touted the new law as making "improvements and efficiencies” to the Medicaid system, the ICS believes it will result in increased costs to the State. Adult Medicaid patients with acute musculoskeletal conditions will have no choice but to use more expensive emergency room or orthopedic surgeon services when more conservative, less costly chiropractic services might have improved their problems.