US Veterans Administration Begins to Offer Chiropractic

The June 25th, 2004 PRNewswire reports that the US Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), Anthony J. Principi, announced that as of the fall of 2004 US Veterans will be able to receive chiropractic care at 26 selected Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. According to the release, the VA will hire or contract with doctors of chiropractic to provide the care. In consultation with VA primary care providers, doctors of chiropractic will offer patient evaluations and chiropractic care for neuromusculoskeletal conditions.

Secretary Principi stated, "Today, VA makes another significant improvement to the world-class health care we provide for eligible veterans. Veterans who will benefit from chiropractic services will now have the opportunity to receive chiropractic care to restore them to good health."

The release notes that the locations where chiropractic care will be provided include; Togus, Maine; West Haven and Newington, Conn.; Buffalo and the Bronx, N.Y.; Butler, Pa.; Martinsburg, W.Va.; Columbia, S.C.; Augusta, Ga.; Tampa and Miami, Fla.; Mountain Home, Tenn.; Columbus, Ohio; Danville, Ill.; Iron Mountain, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Jackson, Miss.; San Antonio, Temple, and Dallas, Texas; Albuquerque, N.M.; Fort Harrison, Mont.; Seattle, Wash.; Sacramento and Los Angeles, Calif.; and Sioux Falls, S.D.

For those eligible veterans who live in areas distant from these locations, the VA will allow them to receive chiropractic care through VA's outpatient fee-basis program after a referral by their primary care provider and prior authorization by the VA department.

This change came about as a result of the "Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001" passed by the government several years ago. Implementation is now coming after several years of study on how best to implement the law, and make chiropractic available to veterans in the VA program.