HR 539, the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025, amends Medicare law to expand coverage for chiropractic services beyond the current narrow restriction of manual spinal manipulation for subluxation. The bill would recognize doctors of chiropractic as physicians and allow them to provide a full range of services within their state-licensed scope of practice, bringing Medicare coverage into alignment with private insurance, military health systems, and federal employee health benefits. Currently, Medicare coverage for chiropractic care has remained largely unchanged since 1972, despite advances in the profession and evidence-based practice standards. The legislation requires doctors of chiropractic to complete an educational webinar to participate in Medicare. This modernization would give Medicare beneficiaries access to a broader array of chiropractic services that are already available to other American patients.

Why It Matters to MAHA

The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act directly advances health freedom and patient autonomy by expanding access to an innovative treatment option that millions of Americans already choose in the private market. MAHA opposes regulatory barriers that artificially limit patient choice, and Medicare's outdated 1972 restrictions on chiropractic coverage exemplify exactly the kind of government-imposed limitation that restricts treatment options for seniors. By aligning Medicare with other health systems that already recognize the full scope of chiropractic practice, this bill removes a regulatory barrier and empowers patients to choose the practitioners and treatments they believe will help them. The bill also promotes transparency in healthcare by formally recognizing chiropractors as licensed physicians and allowing evidence-based services within their scope of practice. Modernizing insurance coverage to reflect current professional standards and patient demand is a core MAHA objective.