In a bold and unprecedented step to combat regulatory discrimination and restore competition in U.S. healthcare, Chiropractic Future, a collaborative initiative dedicated to creating better access, better reimbursement, and a brighter future for the profession, has submitted three formal comments to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force.
These comprehensive filings spotlight widespread anticompetitive practices that exclude chiropractors from full participation in federal health systems and private insurance markets, despite clinical effectiveness, licensure parity, and legal recognition. They address:
- Systemic violations of provider nondiscrimination law under 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-5 [Section 2706(a) of the Affordable Care Act]
- Critical regulatory barriers within Medicare
- Misuse of ERISA preemption by insurers to suppress chiropractic participation
Together, these filings form a bold and evidence-backed national effort to challenge systemic inequities that continue to restrict reimbursement, limit access, and enable discriminatory treatment of chiropractors throughout the healthcare system.
“This is not just about doctors of chiropractic. It’s about fairness, access, and patient choice in America’s healthcare system,” said Kristi Hudson, Chairperson, Chiropractic Future Leadership Committee. “Through this effort, we’ve drawn a clear line. Discrimination and competitive suppression must be addressed through federal enforcement.”
Key Highlights from the Comments:
Provider Nondiscrimination (42 U.S.C. § 300gg-5): Despite legal protections under the Affordable Care Act, chiropractors continue to face unequal reimbursement, preauthorization barriers, and unjustified network exclusion. These actions are imposed even when chiropractors deliver services within their licensed scope that are billed using the same codes as other providers. These practices suppress competition and block patient access to proven, cost-effective care.
Read Full Nondiscrimination Submission (PDF).
Medicare Coverage Disparities: Chiropractors are federally recognized as “physicians” under 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(r), yet current CMS rules limit Medicare reimbursement to spinal manipulation only. This exclusion applies even to services such as evaluations, diagnostics, and rehabilitative care that fall within a chiropractor’s licensed scope of practice. These same services are routinely reimbursed when performed by other Medicare-recognized providers. This policy restricts patient access, raises costs, and undermines clinical equity.
Read Full Medicare Submission (pdf).
ERISA Abuse and Market Distortion: Self-funded plans increasingly invoke ERISA preemption to bypass state laws and enforce discriminatory benefit designs. These practices allow insurers to reimburse chiropractors at lower rates, impose arbitrary visit limits, and recoup payments without due process. Such tactics violate fiduciary duties and suppress chiropractic participation in favor of more expensive provider types.
Read Full ERISA Submission (PDF).
A Call to Action for the Profession
This strategic action represents a milestone in elevating chiropractors to equal footing within the U.S. healthcare system. Chiropractic Future urges chiropractic organizations, institutions, and individual providers to share these filings, engage with federal advocacy efforts, and press for regulatory and statutory reforms that recognize the full value of conservative, non-pharmacologic care.
“We’re calling on every chiropractor and every stakeholder in this profession to see these comments for what they are – a meaningful step toward opening the door to reform,” said Marc Abla, CAE, Reimbursement Workgroup Chairperson. “This is Chiropractic Future’s opportunity to change the conversation at the federal level.”
Chiropractic Future also recognizes the important contributions of other national chiropractic organizations that have submitted comments to the Department of Justice addressing anticompetitive healthcare regulations. The chiropractic profession is strengthened when multiple voices work to expose and challenge systemic barriers. These independent efforts highlight a shared goal of ensuring patients have access to care from all qualified providers, supported by fair and consistent reimbursement policies.
About Chiropractic Future
The Chiropractic Future Strategic Plan is focused on driving national change, the initiative leverages innovation, data, research, and technology to shape the future of chiropractic healthcare across the country. For more information, visit www.chiropracticfuture.org.
About the Department of Justice Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force
The Justice Department Anticompetitive Regulations Taskforce advocates for the elimination of anticompetitive state and federal laws and regulations that undermine free market competition and harm consumers, workers, and businesses. The Department’s Antitrust Division has a long history of advocacy against laws and regulations that create unnecessary barriers to competition. The Task Force will surge resources to these efforts and invite public comments to support the Trump Administration’s mission to unwind laws and regulations that hinder business dynamism and make markets less competitive. According to DOJ, laws and regulations in healthcare markets too often discourage providers and hospitals from providing low-cost, high-quality healthcare and instead encourage overbilling and consolidation. These kinds of unnecessary anticompetitive regulations put affordable healthcare out of reach for millions of American families.
Sources:
Chiropractic Future Strategic Plan Press Release, “Chiropractic Future Champions National Reform with Landmark DOJ Filings on Behalf of the Chiropractic Profession,” June 19, 2025
U.S. Department of Justice Press Release, “Justice Department Launches Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force,” March 27, 2025
