To amend title 38, United States Code, to permit eligible veterans to receive direct access to chiropractic care.

February 17, 2005

Mr. FILNER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

To amend title 38, United States Code, to permit eligible veterans to receive direct access to chiropractic care.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Better Access to Chiropractors to Keep our Veterans Healthy Act (BACK Veterans Health Act)'.

SEC. 2. EXPANDED CHIROPRACTOR SERVICES AVAILABLE TO VETERANS.

(a) Medical Services- Paragraph (6) of section 1701 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

`(G) Chiropractic services.'.

(b) Rehabilitative Services- Paragraph (8) of such section is amended by inserting `chiropractic,' after `counseling,'.

(c) Preventive Health Services- Paragraph (9) of such section is amended --

(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K) as subparagraphs (G) through (L), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph (F):

`(F) periodic and preventative chiropractic examinations and services;'.

SEC. 3. DIRECT ACCESS FOR VETERANS TO CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES.

(a) In General- Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1710B the following new section:

`Sec. 1710C. Direct access to chiropractic services

`(a) The Secretary shall permit eligible veterans to receive needed medical services, rehabilitative services, and preventative health services from a licensed doctor of chiropractic on a direct access basis at the election of the eligible veteran, if such services are within the State scope of practice of such doctor of chiropractic.

`(b) The Secretary shall not discriminate among licensed health-care providers in the determination of needed services.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1710B the following new item:

`1710C. Direct access to chiropractic services.'.

END