ACA Represents Chiropractic at Nation’s Largest Gathering of State Legislators

Participation Educates Lawmakers on Value of Including Profession in State-level Health Reform Efforts

Arlington, Va.—Leadership from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) will represent the interests of the chiropractic profession and its patients at the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) Legislative Summit, taking place Aug. 12-15 in Atlanta, Ga.   

Each summer, NCSL brings thousands of legislators and staff together for the largest and most substantive meeting of its kind in the United States, allowing policymakers to network and exchange ideas. The 2013 Legislative Summit is four days of more than 100 policy sessions on the most pressing issues facing state legislatures, including budget conditions and health care reform implementation.

“The fight to ensure full inclusion of the essential services provided by doctors of chiropractic in the reformed health care landscape has spread from Washington, D.C. to all 50 state capitals,” said ACA President Keith Overland, DC. “State lawmakers may not be aware that research suggests insurance companies that restrict access to doctors of chiropractic may, inadvertently, pay more for care than if they removed these restrictions, or that patients with neck pain find more relief from spinal manipulation than from medication. We have to tell them.”

“State legislators will also be pleasantly surprised to hear that the services provided by doctors of chiropractic can help fill the primary care workforce gap, which is poised to become an even larger problem for voters in many states,” said John Falardeau, ACA senior vice president of government relations. “I’m looking forward to presenting the solution offered by the chiropractic profession as I meet with state lawmakers from around the country.”

Throughout the conference, ACA will be mixing, mingling and educating the anticipated 5,500 attendees from booth 330 at the Georgia World Congress Center. “I would also like to thank local ACA members for volunteering at the booth, and I appreciate the Georgia Chiropractic Association for stepping in and helping to coordinate many of our logistics in Atlanta,” Dr. Overland added. 

To learn more about NCSL’s 39th annual Legislative Summit, visit http://www.ncsl.org/meetings/summit-2013/home.aspx.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), celebrating its 50th 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.