Help us fight for better insurance coverage of chiropractic!

We hear from chiropractors often that they have patients who, due to insurance limitations, are unable to continue receiving the care that helps their chronic pain or must ration visits at the cost of their health. HB 303 would require insurers to cover a minimum of 20 chiropractic visits per year, along with other nonpharmacological pain management services like physical therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture. On Wednesday, NHCA Board members Dr. Daniel Parent and Dr. James Pamplin provided verbal testimony to the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee in support of this legislation. We want to thank all of the New Hampshire DCs who have taken the time to submit written testimony!

If you have not had a chance to show your support yet, there is still time to contact the committee before its members vote to decide whether this bill will move forward. To send your testimony to the full committee, email HouseCommerceCommittee@leg.state.nh.us. You can use
our template to help you write your testimony.

 

Support our Work- Become a Member!

NHCA Legislative Chair Mark Stagnone, DC testifies in front of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee in support of HB 247 in February 2022. 

Over the past year, the NHCA has done work on behalf of the profession that we’re proud of. The association:

  • Advertised chiropractic’s “hands-on, drug free approach to healthcare in a safe environment” on NHPR and its podcasts from March to August, directing listeners to our member map.
  • Allied with a multi-disciplinary group of healthcare organizations to advocate for HB 247, a bill that would ensure adequate chiropractic coverage for patients who would otherwise be prescribed opioids for acute or chronic pain.
  • Sent our board members to Concord to testify in support of HB 1245, a bill that would address unfair chiropractic copayment practices by insurance companies.
  • Held a virtual town hall event open to all NH chiropractors to collect information on the issues impacting the profession throughout the state.
  • Presented continuing education in collaboration with the ACA Pediatrics Council.
  • Lobbied New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to support the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act, which would update Medicare rules to allow coverage for our usual scope of services, including exams. That means better chiropractic coverage for over 300,000 Granite Staters!
  • Hired our first Association Manager to ensure that we are consistently and reliably meeting the needs of New Hampshire chiropractors.

This year, we continue to advocate on legislation impacting the profession and plan exciting continuing education opportunities, both virtual and in-person. We are gathering information from New Hampshire chiropractors to address Anthem payment delays, and anticipate that the NHCA will be represented as a stakeholder in a state-commissioned study on minimum chiropractic insurance coverage by commercial insurance plans.

This work is made possible by our members across the state. To continue and expand our efforts, we need your support.

You can support our work by becoming an NHCA member today!

Contact our Senators about S. 4042!

On Thursday, April 7, just before a two-week congressional recess, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), joined by his colleagues Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), introduced S. 4042, the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act, a bipartisan companion to legislation of the same name, H.R. 2654, in the House. The Senate bill was immediately referred to the Finance committee, which has jurisdiction on all matters related to the Medicare program.

Why is it important that this bill has been introduced in both chambers? Basically, a companion bill shows support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and lends an added sense of credibility to the cause. Additionally, a bill now in both chambers opens further opportunities for passage. Learn more from this ACA blog post.

How can you support this legislation? Additional cosponsors are important, for both the Senate and House bills. Cosponsor numbers show support, and strong numbers are undeniable truths when it comes time to move legislation to the floor. Senator Maggie Hassan and Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster would make especially powerful cosponsors of this legislation because of their positions on key committees. You can help to generate cosponsors by contacting your Senators and Representative through the ACA Legislative Action Center. Make sure your colleagues, patients, family, and friends do the same!

Share your story: Unfair Reimbursement Based on Provider Type

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) collaborated recently with the Patient Access to Responsible Care Alliance (PARCA), a coalition of non-MD healthcare providers, in submitting a letter to federal regulators urging them to enforce a rule that requires group health plans and health insurers to fairly compensate non-MDs for the same services delivered by other healthcare providers.

Do you have personal stories about how you have been compensated unfairly by a group health plan or health insurer? You can support the ACA’s advocacy on this issue by sending your stories to them today.