I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3654 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage 
for all physicians’ services furnished by doctors of chiropractic within 
the scope of their license, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 9, 2019 
Mr. HIGGINS of New York (for himself and Mr. REED) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
Medicare coverage for all physicians’ services furnished 
by doctors of chiropractic within the scope of their li-
cense, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Chiropractic Medicare 
Coverage Modernization Act of 2019’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:59 Jul 16, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3654.IH
H3654
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 1972, coverage was established under the 
Medicare program for beneficiaries to receive chiro-
practic care. 
(2) Unfortunately, the antiquated statute re-
stricts beneficiaries to one service in a chiropractic 
clinic and Medicare chiropractic coverage has not 
kept up with private sector coverage and other fed-
eral health delivery systems. 
(3) Today, due to positive evidence-based out-
comes and cost effectiveness of the services provided 
by doctors of chiropractic, private coverage for chiro-
practic services has evolved and State licensure for 
chiropractors has advanced to meet patient needs 
and health outcomes. 
(4) This Act would bring Medicare chiropractic 
coverage more in line with that provided with the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of De-
fense, the Federal Employee Health Benefits Pro-
gram, and private health insurance coverage. 
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to ex-
pand recognition and coverage of a doctor of chiropractic 
as a ‘‘physician’’ under the Medicare program in connec-
tion with the performance of any function or action, in-
cluding current service of ‘‘manual manipulation of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:59 Jul 16, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3654.IH
H3654
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
in the jurisdiction in which the function or action is per-
formed’’. 
(b) CERTAIN COVERAGE LIMITS.—Section 1833 of 
the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(cc) LIMITATION ON PAYMENT OF SERVICES PRO-
VIDED BY CERTAIN DOCTORS OF CHIROPRACTIC.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of this part, in the case 
of services of a doctor of chiropractic described in section 
1861(r)(5), payment may only be made under this part 
for such services if— 
‘‘(1) such services are furnished by a doctor of 
chiropractic who is verified once, by a process de-
signed by the Secretary, as attending an educational 
documentation webinar, or other similar electronic 
product, designed by the Secretary or an updated 
modified version of such webinar, as designed by the 
Secretary; or 
‘‘(2) such services are treatment by means of 
manual manipulation of the spine to correct a sub-
luxation.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:59 Jul 16, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3654.IH
H3654
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS