Chiropractic Future Champions National Reform with Landmark Department Of Justice Filings on Behalf of the Chiropractic Profession
CHIROPRACTIC FUTURE PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Molalla, Oregon – June 19, 2025 – In a bold and unprecedented step to combat regulatory discrimination and restore competition in U.S. healthcare, Chiropractic Future has submitted three formal comments to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force. These comprehensive filings spotlight widespread anticompetitive practices that exclude doctors of chiropractic from full participation in federal health systems and private insurance markets, despite clinical effectiveness, licensure parity, and legal recognition.
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The comments address systemic violations of provider nondiscrimination law under 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-5, critical regulatory barriers within Medicare, and misuse of ERISA preemption by insurers to suppress chiropractic participation. Together, they form a bold and evidence-backed national effort to challenge systemic inequities that continue to restrict reimbursement, limit access, and
enable discriminatory treatment of doctors of chiropractic throughout the healthcare system.
“This is not just about doctors of chiropractic. It’s about fairness, access, and patient choice in America’s healthcare system,” said Kristi Hudson, Chairperson of the Chiropractic Future Leadership Committee. “Through this effort, we’ve drawn a clear line. Discrimination and competitive suppression must be addressed through federal enforcement.”
Key Highlights from the Comments:
Provider Nondiscrimination (42 U.S.C. § 300gg-5): Despite legal protections under the Affordable Care Act, doctors of chiropractic continue to face unequal reimbursement, preauthorization barriers, and unjustified network exclusion. These actions are imposed even when chiropractors deliver services within their licensed scope that are billed using the same codes as other providers. These practices suppress competition and block patient access to proven, cost-effective care.
Read Full Nondiscrimination Submission (PDF)
Medicare Coverage Disparities: Doctors of chiropractic are federally recognized as “physicians” under 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(r), yet current CMS rules limit Medicare reimbursement to spinal manipulation only. This exclusion applies even to services such as evaluations, diagnostics, and rehabilitative care that fall within a chiropractor’s licensed scope of practice. These same services are routinely reimbursed when performed by other Medicare-recognized providers. This policy restricts patient access, raises costs, and undermines clinical equity.
Read Full Medicare Submission (PDF)
ERISA Abuse and Market Distortion: Self-funded plans increasingly invoke ERISA preemption to bypass state laws and enforce discriminatory benefit designs. These practices allow insurers to reimburse doctors of chiropractic at lower rates, impose arbitrary visit limits, and recoup payments without due process. Such tactics violate fiduciary duties and suppress chiropractic participation in favor of more expensive provider types.
Read Full ERISA Submission (PDF)
A Call to Action for the Profession
This strategic action represents a milestone in elevating doctors of chiropractic to equal footing within the U.S. healthcare system. Chiropractic Future urges chiropractic organizations, institutions, and individual providers to share these filings, engage with federal advocacy efforts, and press for regulatory and statutory reforms that recognize the full value of conservative, non-pharmacologic care.
“We’re calling on every doctor of chiropractic and every stakeholder in this profession to see these comments for what they are – a meaningful step toward opening the door to reform,” said Marc Abla, CAE, Reimbursement Workgroup Chairperson. “This is Chiropractic Future’s opportunity to change the conversation at the federal level.”
Chiropractic Future also recognizes the important contributions of other national chiropractic organizations that have submitted comments to the Department of Justice addressing anticompetitive healthcare regulations. The chiropractic profession is strengthened when multiple voices work to expose and challenge systemic barriers. These independent efforts highlight a shared goal of ensuring patients have access to care from all qualified providers, supported by fair and consistent reimbursement policies.
About Chiropractic Future
The Chiropractic Future Strategic Plan is a collaborative initiative dedicated to creating better access, better reimbursement, and a brighter future for the profession. Focused on driving national change, the initiative leverages innovation, data, research, and technology to shape the future of chiropractic healthcare across the country. For more information, visit www.chiropracticfuture.org.
[Editor’s Note: The Illinois Chiropractic Society is sharing this press release because the issues outlined in the filings (provider nondiscrimination, Medicare coverage limitations, and ERISA misuse) have a direct impact on chiropractic physicians in Illinois. These federal advocacy efforts are designed to confront systemic barriers that affect fair reimbursement and patient access to chiropractic care across our state. We are also proud to highlight the leadership of ICS member Dr. Vijay Patel (Mt. Prospect), who serves on the Chiropractic Future Leadership Team, and ICS Executive Director Marc Abla, CAE, who also serves on the Leadership Team and chairs the Reimbursement Workgroup that developed these critical submissions.]
