This episode examines the 54-year contradiction at the heart of Medicare’s chiropractic policy: the program pays for spinal manipulation to correct vertebral subluxation, yet refuses to cover many services needed to identify, assess, and document it. The discussion contrasts two reform strategies, warning that broad “scope of license” legislation could invite medicalization, regulatory ambiguity, and further CMS restrictions. It argues instead for the Posey-Manzullo framework advocated by the Chiropractic Freedom Coalition, which preserves chiropractic’s subluxation-centered, drug-free identity while explicitly covering examinations, imaging, diagnostic tools, fair reimbursement, and patient opt-out rights. The result is a high-stakes debate over Medicare, professional unity, and chiropractic’s future under federal law.
CLICK HERE for related story and to read the proposal
