MCPA Would Like to Thank Our Missouri Representatives for Their Unanimous Support of HR2654.
This legislation would allow Medicare recipients to receive the full spectrum of care provided by chiropractic physicians. Including chiropractic physicians fully in Medicare will reduce opioid prescriptions, ER visits, surgical costs, and imaging costs. All eight of our House Congressional members from Missouri are co-sponsors on this legislation. Congressman Jason Smith is an original cosponsor. Reps. Cori Bush Emanuel Cleaver II, Sam Graves, Vicky Hartzler, Billy Long, Blaine Luetkemeyer, and Ann Wagner are cosponsors.
21st Century Cures Act & Information Blocking
Increased Patient Access to Health Records – the Cures Act
The 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act), signed into law in 2016, was designed to help bring health care innovations to patients to provide more patient control in a value-based health system. Recognizing that patient access and ease of transfer of health records are key, the law includes two provisions that directly affect health care offices: 1) providers are prohibited from “information blocking” (practices that restrict the transfer of information); and 2) electronic health record systems must allow for interoperability (easy interface) among different health systems. After some delays in implementation, HHS’ latest release says that the rule will now be applied starting April 5, 2021.
Missouri Leads the Way on Non-Opioid Options for TRICARE Recipients
U.S. House Bill 344 is a bipartisan bill introduced by Reps. Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA) that would provide career military retirees in TRICARE with access to Chiropractic Physicians and services to address pain management, musculoskeletal disorders, and related ailments. The Senate companion bill is Senate Bill 30 introduced by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Jerry Moran (R-KS).
Currently active duty military has access to cost-effective, Non-Opioid treatment options; however, once they retire or “medically retire” from service, this treatment option is no longer available. The chiropractic profession is working with elected officials on a national level to fix this issue.
Veterans Affairs Release VHA Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI)
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) released evidence-based guidelines on Opioid Safety as a way "to improve patient outcomes, ensure patient safety, and increase the efficiency of our community-based services". Click the link below to read the full report, find out how-to take the online training, or to learn more about becoming a VHA Provider.