House Concurrent Resolution 62/Senate Concurrent Resolution 32

ISSUE:	EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE GUARANTEED COVERAGE OF CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES UNDER THE MEDICARE+CHOICE PROGRAM. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has concerns with the new Medicare+Choice program, specifically how the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has interpreted the statute. In essence, it is HCFA's position, that there are no, and never have been, chiropractic services in the Medicare program and as a result, beneficiaries may not have the choice of treatment by a doctor of chiropractic in the Medicare+Choice program. To correct this misinterpretation of the Congressional intent, the ACA enlisted the help of many members of Congress last year, including Senator Daschle (D-SD) and Speaker Hastert (R-IL). As a result, more than forty members of Congress sent letters to HCFA explaining that it was their intent that chiropractic is a covered service for Medicare+Choice enrollees as it is for those enrollees in Medicare Part B. HCFA has refused to re-examine this issue.
STATUS:	On March 18, 1999, Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY) introduced H.Con.Res. 62 and on May 17, Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) introduced S.Con.Res. 32. These resolutions express the sense of Congress that treatment by means of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation is a uniquely chiropractic service and that it is the unequivocal intent of Congress that this service, provided by a doctor of chiropractic, should be guaranteed for beneficiaries as a choice in the new Medicare+Choice program.
ACTION NEEDED	Members of Congress are requested to co-sponsor the Cubin/Conrad resolution - H.Con.Res. 62/S.Con.Res. 32 and work to ensure inclusion of this clarifying language in Medicare reform legislation, which is expected to pass through the following key committees of jurisdiction: House Ways & Means Committee, House Commerce Committee and Senate Finance Committee.
POLICY RATIONALE:	Treatment by means of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation is a uniquely chiropractic service, which Congress recognized in 1972 as a Medicare Part B benefit; It is the unequivocal intent of Congress to ensure that every Medicare+Choice beneficiary has access to all services covered under the original Part B Medicare fee-for-service program; and As a covered Medicare Part B service, treatment by means of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation provided by a doctor of chiropractic is a guaranteed service for beneficiaries under the new Medicare+Choice program.