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2024 TN Assembly Adjourns: Triumphs and Trials of Final Days
The 113th TN General Assembly adjourned “sine die” late afternoon on April 25, 2024. The intensity of this second-year session was palpable as bill sponsors and lobbyists worked to pass their legislation and defend their interests before the final gavel. TCA Members may access a detailed recap via Doctor Privilege by logging into the Members Only section.
Disability Placard Bill Scores Win for Chiropractic
The TCA’s ambitious legislative agenda achieved its first win in February, just days after the bill filing deadline, with the passing of our Disability Placard Bill. A huge thank you goes to our bill sponsors, Rep. Brock Martin, DC and Sen. Paul Rose, who championed this legislation which empowers chiropractic physicians to authorize disability placards for their patients!
Fair Pay Methodology Bill Makes Historic Wins, Sidelined by Senate Power Play
Our Fair Pay Methodology Bill SB0768/HB1074 made quick headway early on. In a rare and massive win, the bill PASSED through the House Insurance & Senate Commerce Committees with no amendments and only 1 opposition vote! Through your legislative contacts, the TCA’s persistent efforts, and those of our chiropractic champions, the bill overcame numerous challenges! It successfully passed on the House floor before being sidelined in a political play by a Senator who had previously voted in favor of the bill. We recognize this was a strategic choice by a legislator because he had stronger relationships with the insurer community than the chiropractic community, and we now know what we know.
We must refuse to let these actions breed apathy, bitterness or alter the integrity of our efforts. To the contrary, we choose to take this knowledge and become stronger from it with even deeper resolve to fight the next fight. It was inspiring to see the support and impact from the profession and the influence one well-respected Doctor of Chiropractic in the House has on the legislative process.
Thank You for Your Grassroots Action and Support
Those of you who built relationships in your communities, emailed, made calls, give to the TCA PAC and showed up on our Day on the Hill to educate legislators on our issues…you are the professional difference-makers, and we made it this far because of you. Your engagement and actions moved mountains. Together, we were able to defend harmful legislation, move proactive efforts forward, and go further in our efforts to fight for fair pay initiatives than ever before.
It may be surprising to some that less than 5% of TN DCs currently contribute to the TCA PAC Fund, when you consider the numerous chiropractic champions who have supported our bill this year and who we will need to support it next year. Election season has begun. Just think of what we could accomplish if every DC contributed to this effort!
TCA Member and TCA PAC Fund Contributor Benefit:
Watch for a full 2024 Legislative Report to come with summaries and outcomes of key bills impacting the chiropractic profession in Tennessee. As we work to compile a full legislative report for our members and PAC contributors, encompassing the numerous bills monitored this session, watch your Doctor Privilege for ongoing legislative updates and information.
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Do you know your Senator and Representative?
Contact them and let them know you can be their resource on matters impacting chiropractic care and your community. Inform the TCA of your legislative connections!
Click here to find your legislators!
National Legislative Efforts: Act to Impact Medicare Modernization Act
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.
Back the TCA PAC Fund
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.
2024 is an election year. We MUST show support to legislators who champion chiropractic efforts. But, we need PAC funds to make this possible.
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.