Chiropractic Profession Advocates for Greater Role in Meeting Patients’ Needs

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) 2013 National Chiropractic Legislative Conference (NCLC) and Educational Symposium takes place March 6-10 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. The Chiropractic Summit, a compilation of more than 40 chiropractic organizations, will serve as a partnering organization for the event this year.

“Enhanced wellness and preventive services are key aspects of reform efforts, and are facets of care chiropractic physicians have offered for more than a hundred years.”

In conjunction with NCLC, hundreds of chiropractic physicians and chiropractic students from all over the country will travel to Washington to meet with their elected officials to discuss issues important to the profession as well as the millions of patients who rely on their services to stay healthy and pain free.

NCLC participants will provide information on how the chiropractic profession can assist states in closing the looming primary care workforce gap that will be created when more than 40 million new patients are insured as a result of health care reform. They will also advocate for expanded access to chiropractic services for military families and retirees, student loan repayment opportunities for chiropractic graduates, and inclusion of chiropractic physicians in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), chair of the Special Senate Committee on Aging and senior member of the Armed Services Committee, will give the keynote address on March 7 at the NCLC general session. Also speaking will be Academy Award winning producer and director Don Barrett, who will debut a special extended trailer of the forthcoming PBS documentary, “Pain in America: The Silver Tsunami,” which explores in-depth the problem the health care system will have serving the 79 million Baby Boomers who will cross the 65-year-old threshold between now and 2029.

A reception on Capitol Hill for all members of Congress and NCLC participants will be held on March 6.

“Chiropractic physicians are excited to speak with elected officials about the contributions the profession currently makes, as well as the added impact we could have as health care reform is implemented,” said ACA President Keith Overland, DC. “Enhanced wellness and preventive services are key aspects of reform efforts, and are facets of care chiropractic physicians have offered for more than a hundred years.”

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2013, is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of patient care and professional ethics, and supports research that contributes to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients. Visit www.acatoday.org.