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Press Release - GCC Opposes HR 3654
08/29/2019
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GCC BOARD OPPOSES HR 3654, THE ‘CHIROPRACTIC MEDICARE COVERAGE MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2019' Marietta, Georgia, This bill, if passed, will do the following: 1. Allow for expansion of services beyond chiropractic care a. This expansion of the chiropractic profession allowed through this bill would be a gateway into the Pharmaceutical Industry. b. Expanding the scope of chiropractic practice also means increased liability, which will dramatically increase malpractice insurance premiums. 2. Expands ‘Chiropractor’ to “physician” status Expanding chiropractors to full physician status is clearly meant to expand the definition of Chiropractic and expand the scope, which would include drugs and allow for duplication of services, thus positioning Chiropractors as Primary Care Providers instead of Portal of Entry providers. The status of a Chiropractor as primary care physician will be confusing to the public. Doctors of Chiropractic have always been Portal of Entry providers. This distinction is important. Since the beginning of Chiropractic history, Chiropractors have always desired to maintain the ability of their patients to receive Chiropractic care without the need for referral from a medical physician. Positioning chiropractors as primary care providers instead of portal of entry, will change the very nature of the profession. 3. Continues discriminatory policies with no clause to opt-out of Medicare A Bill that the GCC would support must include parity with all other professions by having the ability to opt out of Medicare. 4. Removes the requirement of management of vertebral subluxation The Subluxation and Chiropractic Adjustment must be upheld as the unique and non-duplicating service performed by chiropractors. It is the one thing that makes us separate and distinct. We need legislation that allows Chiropractors to practice as Chiropractors and be reimbursed for providing the Chiropractic benefit. The GCC would support and endorse legislative language for Medicare that would allow Chiropractors to be paid for examinations, x-rays/imaging studies, instrumentation and other diagnostic services, as well as the Adjustment, for the assessment and care of the Vertebral Subluxation, while also including the ability for an individual chiropractor to opt out of Medicare if they should so choose. The Georgia Council of Chiropractic is 100% committed to protecting, promoting and perpetuating Chiropractic to benefit Georgia's citizens and the Chiropractors serving in Georgia. It is our mission to profess and promote the ideals and principles upon which our profession and our organization were founded. Therefore, the GCC proclaims that detecting and correcting Vertebral Subluxations is a just and noble cause, which allows people to express 100% of their innate potential for health, happiness and overall well-being. In keeping with our Mission, The Georgia Council of Chiropractic OPPOSES HR 3654, the ‘Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2019’. The Georgia Council of Chiropractic, founded in 1982, serves the Chiropractic profession in Georgia and is comprised of chiropractors, chiropractic students, and chiropractic assistants from all over the state of Georgia and several other states. # # # If you would like more information about this topic, please contact |