109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 999
To require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan
to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for certain new
beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 1, 2005
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan
to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for certain new
beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program.
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 `Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries
Act'.
SEC. 2. CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CARE FOR RETIREES, DEPENDENTS, AND SURVIVORS.
(a) Plan Required- Not later than August 31, 2005, the Secretary of Defense
shall complete development of a plan to provide chiropractic health care services
and benefits, as a permanent part of the TRICARE program, for covered beneficiaries.
(b) Contents of Plan- The plan shall require that a contract entered into
under section 1097 of title 10, United States Code, for the delivery of health
care services shall--
(1) include the delivery of chiropractic services;
(2) require that chiropractic services may be provided only by a doctor
of chiropractic; and
(3) provide that a covered beneficiary may select and have direct access
to a doctor of chiropractic without referral by another health practitioner.
(c) Implementation of Plan- The plan developed under subsection (a) shall
provide for implementation of the plan to begin no later than January 31,
2006.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
(1) The term `chiropractic services'--
(A) includes diagnosis (including by diagnostic X-ray tests), evaluation
and management, and therapeutic services for the treatment of a patient's
health condition, including neuromusculoskeletal conditions and the subluxation
complex, and such other services determined appropriate by the Secretary
and as authorized under State law; and
(B) does not include the use of drugs or surgery.
(2) The term `covered beneficiary' has the meaning provided by section 1072(5)
of title 10, United States Code.
(3) The term `doctor of chiropractic' means only a doctor of chiropractic
who is licensed as a doctor of chiropractic, chiropractic physician, or
chiropractor by a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession
of the United States.
(4) The term `TRICARE program' has the meaning provided by section 1072(7)
of title 10, United States Code.
END
