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Chiropractic Physicians & Patients Take Action to Contact Congress
Bipartisan legislation to allow patients to have life-changing access to Medicare coverage of chiropractic services is gaining support in the U.S. Congress.
The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act, H.R. 1610 / S. 799, would enable Medicare patients to access the wide array of services chiropractors provide under their state’s chiropractic scope of practice. Chiropractic physicians and their patients can join in the nationwide effort and move these bills forward by contacting their U.S. Representatives and Senators for their co-sponsorship and support.
Join the effort to secure co-sponsors for this bipartisan legislation that would allow Tennessee’s Medicare beneficiaries to receive coverage for the full range of chiropractic care.
Take action today! Click Here for doctor and patient resources & easy email templates.
2023 Legislative Session Has Adjourned
The 2023 session of the 113th General Assembly adjourned on Friday, April 21, 2023. The General Assembly will reconvene on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
A final comprehensive legislative report is currently being compiled for the benefit of TCA Members and TCA PAC Contributors. Watch your Doctor Privilege for ongoing legislative updates and information.
Do you know your Senator and Representative? Click here to find your legislators!
Other Recent TCA Legislative Successes
TCA Secures Legislative Successes for Chiropractic Despite Uphill Battle During 2022 Session
The 112th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned “sine die” late afternoon on April 28, 2022. Throughout this second-year session, lobbyists and sponsors of bills still making their way through committees felt an added sense of urgency to build on the momentum made to pass their legislation and avoid having to file their bill again next year. All of this while legislators facing elections worked quickly to close committees and begin their campaigns.
With this in mind, the TCA was actively engaged early on in our initiatives to promote and protect chiropractic. Two areas of focus on our legislative agenda were our Fair Pay Methodology Bill to address inequities in pay methodologies negatively impacting chiropractic and the need for ongoing TennCare program funding for the coverage of chiropractic care for adult patients.
Chiropractic Advocates Return to Capitol for Successful Day on the Hill
After two years of circumstances limiting our ability to host an in-person Day on the Hill, the TCA was pleased to once again welcome chiropractic physicians, assistants, family members and patients back to the capital. Meeting with their legislators, they were a strong voice for chiropractic on the importance of fair pay and continuing to support access to care for all.
Meetings with local legislators were the prime focus of the day. As a result of their efforts, there were more than 30 connections made with state lawmakers who will vote on chiropractic issues, providing valuable feedback. Professional issue briefs highlighting key bills, including our Fair Pay Methodology Bill, were provided for participants to use in their legislative appointments.
2022 TCA Legislative Report Now Online
TCA Members may download an expansive 2022 TCA Legislative Report by logging into TNCHIRO.com and clicking on the Advocacy button on the Member Home Page.
In 2021, the TCA successfully passed two of our pro-active pieces of legislation in what was a session full of obstacles. TCA advocacy restored access to chiropractic care for thousands of adults in TennCare who wish to seek non-drug and non-invasive treatment options. The TCA was also successful in creating the opportunity for a eligible, licensed CTA or CXT to serve on the TN Board of Chiropractic Examiners which will be a benefit for the profession.
As a result of TCA’s effective and strategic relationships in 2020, the TCA is proud that we were successful in protecting and promoting chiropractic as Essential and enabling TN DCs to continue caring for patients when other states were not, and we continue this effort. In spite of the challenges experienced this session, the TCA’s defensive efforts succeeded in protecting critical scope of practice language and in stopping broad scope expansion bills along with numerous insurance-related bills with the potential to negatively impact your practice.
In recent years, through a concerted effort by our members, TCA leadership and our professional lobbying team we overcame a mire of obstacles and opposition and in addition to passing our Alternative to Opioids bill, which names chiropractic within the definition of “alternative treatments” per Tennessee law, TCA removed both the Massage Establishment License requirement for DCs (as well as MDs and DOs) and the Professional Privilege Tax.
These successes could not have happened without multiple years of grassroots support from TCA Members, our tireless TCA lobbying team, and the incredible leadership of our bill champions and sponsors!
Back the TCA PAC Fund
We MUST show support to legislators who supported chiropractic efforts this year and who are vital in future efforts. But, we need PAC funds to make this possible.
The TCA PAC supports candidates running for State House or Senate, and helps to strengthen current relationships that are invaluable to the future of the profession in Tennessee.
TCA Membership Dues At Work For You!
Member support enables a long list of TCA accomplishments such as the valuable work mentioned above. Think of how much more we could do if we had the support of all licensed DCs in TN…
The TCA has a responsibility to our members as the only voice for doctors of chiropractic in Tennessee and we use that platform to relentlessly advocate for good public policy. We need a strong effort moving forward to address the ongoing insurance inequities and defense to our scope, among other TCA objectives.
For roughly the cost of one dinner out a month, TN doctors who are not currently members can join and show their support plus, reap a wealth of benefits.
TCA Chiropractic Advocacy Resources
Why is the TCA Unique When it Comes to Lobbying?
Our legislators as decision-makers do not always have experience or access to information on how their constituents and patients of chiropractic might be affected. It is our job as chiropractic advocates to educate our elected officials and be certain that they have the information they need to make the best decisions possible.
There is no shortage of paid lobbyists and special interests groups who aggressively try to influence Tennessee legislators; however, the TCA is the only statewide association advocating for chiropractic in the midst of numerous lobbyists for other provider groups, business interests, insurers and others. While our strong team of TCA lobbyists speaks out for chiropractic on “the Hill”, state legislators are most responsive to their constituents – people who vote in their districts. They also feel the need to know that a specific issue is a priority in their community, and it takes the people who live and work in the community to sway them.
Why is Lobbying Necessary?
The Tennessee Chiropractic Association encourages informed and active participation in government, with the aim to ensure that chiropractic physicians’ voices are an important part of political dialogue on issues impacting the profession.
As sessions become more and more fast-paced, we cannot be guaranteed that legislators have had the opportunity to fully review every bill that comes before them for their vote. It is our job as chiropractic advocates to educate our elected officials and be certain that they have the information they need to make the best decisions possible.
Legislators Need to Hear from You
Tennessee’s state senators and representatives come from diverse backgrounds; many are not healthcare experts and may have no chiropractic experience, yet they must vote on these issues when a bill comes before them. As a healthcare expert, you are uniquely qualified to help your elected representatives understand the practical implications of healthcare policy proposals. It is vital that legislators hear from you.
Click here to find your legislators.
What Can I Do?
It is the TCA’s goal to promote and secure passage of our legislative objectives by the state’s legislators. To focus the tremendous grassroots power of the chiropractic profession, your TCA has developed a Legislative Ambassador network. The aim of the program is to ensure that each and every member of the General Assembly has continual contact with, and input from, his/her local Doctors of Chiropractic. If you have a personal or good working relationship with one of Tennessee’s House or Senate Members or would like to initiate one, we want to know as this can be critical in the communication process to urgent legislative issues. The goal is never threaten or antagonize, but to build a relationship and influence discussion on the basis of your knowledge and understanding of the issue.