ACA Hails Key House Committee Approval of New Chiropractic Benefit for Veterans

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is hailing the action of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, which voted to approve legislation mandating a new program of chiropractic benefits within the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The legislation allows veterans to select a doctor of chiropractic as their primary care provider. Calling the committee's action "the strongest and most important affirmation of the true value and potential of chiropractic care to manifest itself in any federal legislation thus far," ACA president Daryl D. Wills, DC, urged quick action by the full U.S. House of Representatives to approve the measure. Should the new benefit remain intact and pass the full House of Representatives, it would have to be tied to an appropriate Senate-passed bill. While no Senate companion bill currently exists, full House Veterans Committee Chairman Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) said he is "seeking" such a vehicle and would like to pass the chiropractic provision and other committee initiatives into law "this year."