With an initial group of 27 VA health care facilities due to begin making chiropractic care available before the end of 2004, the ACA is focusing on outreach to the nation's largest veterans organizations and briefing members of Congress who want to make certain that veterans from their states and districts have access to a doctor of chiropractic through the veterans health care system.
In August 2004, ACA participated in the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Cincinnati, OH in recognition of DCs being the first health care providers added to the VA system in nearly 30 years. In turn, VFW officials and members formally welcomed the ACA as their point of contact with the chiropractic profession and a key source for information on the inclusion of chiropractic care in VA facilities across the U.S.
In the Spring and Summer 2004, Congressman Rob Simmons (R-CT), Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, worked closely with the ACA, the Association of Chiropractic Colleges and the Connecticut Chiropractic Association to ensure that VA facilities in his home state would be among the first in the nation to appoint an advisory committee made up of local DCs (Dr. Keith Overland and Dr. Anthony Onorato) and hire a DC on staff. Congressman Simmon's hard work has gotten results and put chiropractic care on the fast track at Connecticut's Westhaven VA and Newington VA medical centers. In recent weeks, other pro-chiropractic members of Congress -- working closely with the ACA, ACC and their state chiropractic associations -- have contacted Secretary Anthony Principi and other key VA officials to seek further expansion of the VA's chiropractic care program. The ACA is extending special recognition to lawmakers who are demonstrating active leadership in the effort to bring chiropractic care to America's veterans through the VA system, including Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Senators Lisa Murkoswski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
Please click on the links below to see what lawmakers are telling the VA in your state on speeding the availability of chiropractic care in the VA health care system:
