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Veterans Affairs

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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