HR 1046 IH 
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1046
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
reimbursement under the Medicare Program for all physicians' services furnished 
by doctors of chiropractic within the scope of their license. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 9, 1999
Mr. WATKINS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
reimbursement under the Medicare Program for all physicians' services furnished 
by doctors of chiropractic within the scope of their license. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Chiropractic Patients' Freedom of Choice Act 
  of 1999'.
SEC. 2. PROVIDING MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL PHYSICIANS' SERVICES 
FURNISHED BY DOCTORS OF CHIROPRACTIC WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR LICENSE.
(a) IN GENERAL- Clause (5) of section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act 
  (42 U.S.C. 1395x(r)) is amended to read as follows: `(5) a doctor of 
  chiropractic who is licensed as such by the State and who meets uniform 
  minimum standards promulgated by the Secretary, with respects to treatment by 
  means of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation, and 
  related diagnostic and therapeutic services as identified in subsection (s), 
  but only with the respect to functions which he or she is legally authorized 
  to perform by the State in which he or she performs such functions.'.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to 
  services furnished on or after January 1, 2000.
END