House passes VA chiropractic care bill - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

House passes VA chiropractic care bill

The House and Senate have both approved the expansion of chiropractic care at veterans medical centers, but disagree about how widely available the treatment should be.

The Senate passed a bill earlier this year to require chiropractic treatment at a minimum of 42 locations, an increase from the current 36, but legislation passed by the House on Monday by voice vote requires every Veterans Affairs Department medical center to provide the care.

This big difference between the two bills will have to be worked out later this year, probably as part of a package of veterans health care legislation.

The House-passed bill, HR 1017, would make expansions in two stages: Chiropractors would have to be at 75 medical centers by the end of 2011 and at all 153 medical centers by the end of 2013.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates each additional chiropractor would cost an average of $115,000 a year.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman and chief sponsor of the House bill, said chiropractic care could be important to today’s service members, who may carry up to 55 pounds of combat equipment and armor.

“Consistently supporting such a heavy load places a serious strain on the backs and joints of our service members, causing musculoskeletal injuries,” Filner said.

Musculoskeletal disorders “are the single most common ailment facing returning veterans,” he said. “Among veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom who have received treatment from VA, over 52 percent have been diagnosed with such a disorder; however, VA is not presently equipped to serve this clear need.”

Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana, ranking Republican on the veterans committee, said he is a big supporter of the proposal and wants to ensure that care is available through contracts for veterans who do not live near VA medical centers.