Protecting Patient Access

Chiropractic Scope, Fair Pay, and Medicare Reform

What Is “Scope of Practice” — and Why Does It Matter?

A provider’s scope of practice defines the services they are legally educated, trained, and permitted to perform within their profession. For chiropractors, scope of practice is determined by:

  • State law

  • Licensing boards

  • Professional education standards

In Tennessee, chiropractors are trained to evaluate movement, diagnose neuromusculoskeletal conditions, and provide evidence-based conservative care such as adjustments, manual therapies, therapeutic exercise, and additional supportive services within their legal scope.

Scope of practice exists to protect patient safety, but it also protects patient access. When scope is restricted without clinical justification—or when insurance policies fail to recognize services already allowed by law—patients often experience:

  • Fewer treatment options

  • Higher out-of-pocket costs

  • Fragmented or delayed care

In short, scope of practice determines what care is possible—and policy determines whether patients can realistically receive it.

Advocacy in Action: Day on the Hill in Tennessee

On February 24th, our team will participate in Day on the Hill at the Tennessee State Capitol, joining chiropractors from across the state to meet directly with our elected representatives.

These conversations focus on two key priorities:

  • Fair pay methods across provider titles, ensuring that reimbursement reflects services provided—not just professional labels

  • Protecting and improving patient access to evidence-based services that chiropractors are legally trained and licensed to provide in the state of Tennessee

By engaging with lawmakers, we have the opportunity to explain how current insurance policies and reimbursement structures can limit patient access, increase costs, and restrict conservative care options—even when those services are appropriate and allowed under Tennessee law.

Participation in Day on the Hill is part of our commitment to advocating not just for our profession, but for the patients we serve. Policy decisions made at the state level directly influence what care is available, how accessible it is, and how seamlessly patients can receive it.

We believe that protecting scope of practice and promoting fair reimbursement ultimately supports better outcomes, greater access, and more patient-centered care across Tennessee.

Here is a link to learn more about our proposed bill: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0225&GA=114

Reaching out to your representatives to support this bill can help preserve your access to chiropractic care and costs.

Federal Advocacy: Supporting the Medicare Modernization Act

In addition to our state-level advocacy efforts, our team consistently supports federal initiatives that protect and expand patient access to chiropractic care—most notably the Medicare Modernization Act.

Currently, Medicare coverage for chiropractic care is limited, despite the fact that chiropractors are trained and licensed to provide a broader range of evidence-based, conservative treatments. This creates gaps in care for patients as they reach Medicare eligibility, often limiting access to services that support mobility, pain management, and functional independence.

The Medicare Modernization Act aims to:

  • Expand covered services when performed by chiropractors

  • Improve consistency and continuity of conservative care

  • Increase patient access to non-invasive, evidence-based treatment options

  • Better align Medicare policy with modern chiropractic education and clinical practice

For patients, this legislation represents an opportunity to maintain choice, access, and affordability in their care as they age—supporting healthspan, function, and quality of life.

Patients who would like to learn more about the Medicare Modernization Act or participate in advocacy efforts can visit the American Chiropractic Association’s resource page:

👉 **https://www.acatoday.org/advocacy/medicare/**

Engaging at the federal level helps ensure that Medicare policies continue to evolve in ways that reflect current healthcare standards and patient needs.