For many years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) maintained biased and restrictive policies regarding chiropractic care. As a result, veterans were routinely denied access to doctors of chiropractic and the scientifically proven, cost-effective health care services they provide. In fact, despite legislative directives from Congress, new research documenting efficacy and strong patient demand, chiropractic care in the DVA system was rarely offered to veterans.
Congress recognized these deficiencies and in a series of statutes (including Public Law 108-170 and Public Law 107-135) that established a permanent chiropractic benefit within the DVA health care system and authorized DVA facilities to hire doctors of chiropractic to provide care for veterans. As a result of these directives and recommendations issued a Congressionally-mandated advisory committee, the DVA is moving forward to hire or contract with doctors of chiropractic to provide chiropractic care at 28 veterans hospitals. The ACA is pleased that after years of neglect, the DVA is moving forward to provide a critically important health care service that veterans need and deserve. Please click on the links below for additional information regarding DCs in the VA health care system.
| Letter for Veterans currently receiving chiropractic care January 25, 2006 |
| Letter for doctors of chiropractic, students, and chiropractic assistants January 25, 2006 |
| ACA Works to Further Expand Chiropractic Care in the Veterans Health Care System November 30, 2005 |
| Status of VA Program Implementation [ PDF ] [ Members Only ] September 12, 2005 |
| Request for Applications on Chiropractic Care Research for the VA [ PDF ] [ Members Only ] July 14, 2005 |
| Fact Sheet for Veterans Interested in Receiving Chiropractic Care May 25, 2005 |
| Read the Dear Colleague Letter [ PDF ] April 27, 2005 |
| Read the Congressional Record [ PDF ] April 12, 2005 |
| Legislation Would Give Direct Access to Doctors of Chiropractic February 23, 2005 |
| Setting the Record Straight on Chiropractic in the Veterans Health Care System November 20, 2004 |
| VA Updated Site Chart October 19, 2004 |
| DVA Undersecretary of Health Outlines Credentialing and Privileging of Doctors of Chiropractic [ PDF ] August 23, 2004 |
| VA document outlines the Outpatient Care Fee-Basis Program [ Members Only ] July 27, 2004 |
| Hiring Qualifications, Standards, Pay Scale for VA now available [members only] July 16, 2004 |
| VA Releases List of Facilities Designated to Provide Chiropractic Care: Calls Chiropractic "Significant Improvement" to World Class Health Care June 28, 2004 |
| Your Help Needed to Pass Federal Legislation May 01, 2004 |
| DCs Are First Providers Added to U.S. Veterans Health Care System in 25 Years April 23, 2004 |
| New Bill Would Give Veterans Direct Access to Chiropractic Care March 31, 2004 |
| DVA Secretary Principi Green-Lights Chiropractic Care for America's Veterans March 30, 2004 |
| The Truth About the VA Recommendations March 15, 2004 |
| Direct Access and Dr. Michael McLean's Article...The Rest of the Story By Dr Rick McMichael February 25, 2004 |
| Is This the Hill That You Want to Die On? By William E. Morgan, DC January 20, 2004 |
| Implementation of the chirorpactic benefit in the DVA January 14, 2004 |
| Comments on Recommendation from the VA Chiropractic Advisory Committee November 20, 2003 |
| Chiropractic Care for America's Veterans [ Members Only ] September 04, 2003 |
| Response to the Draft Recommendations of the Chiropractic Advisory Committee U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs September 03, 2003 |
| U.S. House of Representatives Demands Veterans Affairs Department Hire DCS July 23, 2003 |
| VA Advisory Committee Refines Recommendations at Third Meeting March 28, 2003 |
| A Special Message For Veterans and Veterans Organizations February 15, 2003 |
| Senate Majority Leader Praises Chiropractic VA Law [ PDF ] January 28, 2003 |
| Veterans Secretary Appoints Chiropractic Advisory Committee August 13, 2002 |
| President Bush Signs Historic Chiropractic Veterans Legislation into Law January 24, 2002 |
| Chronology of Chiropractors in the Military [ PDF ] January 15, 2002 |
| Sample VA letter to Members of Congress May 20, 2001 |
| Sample VA letter for the House of Representatives April 14, 2001 |
| Sample VA letter for the U.S. Senate April 13, 2001 |
| Members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee April 12, 2001 |
| Members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee April 11, 2001 |
| Integrating Chiropractic Care into the Veterans Health Care System [ PDF ] April 10, 2001 |
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