CHIROPRACTIC CARE PROGRAM ANNOUNCED BY  

 US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Following the many months of sometimes-controversial policy development, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) has announced the launch of the Congressionally mandated chiropractic services program.  In a June 25^th news release, the DVA reported that the agency will begin hiring or contracting with doctors of chiropractic to provide care, and that veterans in remote areas might have outpatient care authorized following a medical referral.   "Limited to 26 sites, the inaugural in-facility program will begin in the "fall" of this year," said ICA Board Member Dr. Michael S. McLean, who also served on the Chiropractic Veterans Advisory Committee created by Congress to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the new program.  "This initiative will test the resolve of the DVA to provide accessible chiropractic care to our nation's military veterans, and ICA is already in close contact with senior Members of Congress to monitor the results of this first phase of implementation." 

In the official DVA release, the agency stated:

Veterans can receive chiropractic care at 26 selected Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities beginning this fall, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi announced today.

VA will hire or contract with doctors of chiropractic to provide the care.  In consultation with VA primary care providers, doctors of chiropractic will offer patient evaluations and chiropractic care for neuromusculoskeletal conditions.

"Today, VA makes another significant improvement to the world-class health care we provide for eligible veterans," said Principi.  "Veterans who will benefit from chiropractic services will now have the opportunity to receive chiropractic care to restore them to good health."

Locations where chiropractic care will be provided include Togus, Maine; West Haven and Newington, Conn.; Buffalo and the Bronx, N.Y.; Butler, Pa.; Martinsburg, W.Va.; Columbia, S.C.; Augusta, Ga.; Tampa and Miami, Fla.; Mountain Home, Tenn.; Columbus, Ohio; Danville, Ill.; Iron Mountain, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Jackson, Miss.; San Antonio, Temple, and Dallas, Texas; Albuquerque, N.M.; Fort Harrison, Mont.; Seattle, Wash.; Sacramento and Los Angeles, Calif.; and Sioux Falls, S.D.

Eligible veterans in areas distant from these locations will also be able to receive chiropractic care through VA's outpatient fee-basis program after a referral by their primary care provider, and prior authorization by the department.

VA was authorized to offer chiropractic care and services under the provisions of section 204 of Public Law 107-135, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001. 

Chiropractors seeking employment or to provide contract services to veterans should call the Human Resources office of any of the above facilities.  Some VA positions may be advertised at http://www.vacareers.com.

"This long-overdue program hopefully marks the beginning of a permanent new care option for veterans, and ICA is committed to expanding the availability of chiropractic services to every community, and to securing direct access to chiropractic care," Dr. McLean added.