One of the problems of getting older is aches and pains and loss of flexibility. Exercise helps with many of these issues, but aches and pains are simply part of getting older. Generally speaking, doctors will prescribe a cream or pill to dull the pain, and the patient will go home slightly improved. Many Americans have discovered that a chiropractor may actually have a better solution. After he adjusts everything and puts it back in place, my chiropractor uses cool lasers that promote healing and help relieve pain. That treatment has the advantage of being drug-free and has restored a lot of flexibility to me. However, Medicare covers very little of the treatment.

On April 19, 2021, Representative Brian Higgins, a Democrat Congressman from New York, sponsored HR 2654 in the U.S. House of Representatives. There are currently 79 co-sponsors of the bill.

The text of the bill states:

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.

I can understand why the pharmaceutical companies would not be big fans of this bill–people who regularly visit a chiropractor very rarely take pain killers.

The American Chiropractic Association notes:

The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act (H.R. 2654) would allow Medicare beneficiaries access to the chiropractic profession’s broad-based, non-drug approach to pain management, which includes manual manipulation of the spine and extremities, evaluation and management services, diagnostic imaging and utilization of other non-drug approaches that have become an important strategy in national efforts to stem the epidemic of prescription opioid overuse and abuse.

If we are truly serious about ending prescription opioid overuse and abuse, this would be a good place to start.