PCA's Legislative Priorities
PA HB 1106 – Removing Administrative Burdens for Chiropractors
House Bill 1106, reintroduced for the 2025 legislative session, represents a critical modernization of Pennsylvania's Chiropractic Practice Act. This legislation establishes a comprehensive framework for certified chiropractic assistants and updates regulations governing supportive personnel in chiropractic practices across the Commonwealth.
HB 1106 restores a chiropractor’s ability to delegate therapeutic exercise to trained support staff, which was lost due to the Cavoto v. State Farm court decision.
The bill does not expand scope of practice; it merely restores a function chiropractors previously had for decades before the court ruling.
Therapeutic exercise remains under direct supervision of the chiropractor, ensuring patient safety and compliance.
Modernizing the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Practice Act
The Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association seeks essential updates to the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P.S. §§ 625.101-625.1106) to align Pennsylvania with over 40 states that have already modernized their chiropractic scope of practice standards.
Copay Reform
The PCA advocates for critical legislation to prohibit discriminatory insurance practices that impose significantly higher copayments for chiropractic care compared to equivalent medical services. Current Pennsylvania insurance policies often require 50% copayments for chiropractic visits while charging only 20% copays for physician services like physical therapy, creating an unjust financial barrier that limits patient access to conservative care.
Equitable Patient Access
Removes discriminatory financial barriers that discourage the use of evidence-based, cost-effective conservative care options, ensuring all Pennsylvanians can afford appropriate treatment for musculoskeletal conditions regardless of provider type.
Healthcare Cost Reduction
Data from states with copay parity demonstrates substantial decreases in expensive ER utilization for back pain, leading to measurably lower insurance premiums and more sustainable healthcare spending across the system.
Patient-Centered Benefits
Directly supports 1.5 million Pennsylvania residents suffering from chronic pain by making chiropractic care financially accessible as a first-line treatment option, improving quality of life and long-term health outcomes.
Conservative Care Framework
The Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association proposes a comprehensive framework for integrating chiropractic care into state-administered health programs including Medicaid, workers' compensation, and state employee health plans.
This initiative prioritizes chiropractic services as the first-line treatment for neuromusculoskeletal conditions, strategically reducing Pennsylvania's dangerous over-reliance on opioid medications and expensive invasive surgical procedures.
50%
Opioid Reduction
Chiropractic care reduces opioid prescription use by 50%, directly supporting Pennsylvania's critical overdose prevention and substance abuse treatment goals
30%
Improved Recovery
Multidisciplinary teams with chiropractors achieve 30% higher recovery rates for workplace injuries compared to traditional treatment approaches
$1.5B
Annual Savings
Projected annual savings to Pennsylvania by prioritizing preventive, conservative, non-invasive chiropractic care throughout state health programs
Return to Play for High School Athletes
The PCA is championing the right for chiropractors to provide Return-to-Play clearance for high school athletes. Our doctors, with their extensive training in musculoskeletal health and concussion management, are uniquely qualified to assess and ensure the safe return of student-athletes to competition. The goals are to improve access to expert care by addressing the shortage of high school athletic trainers, enhance athlete safety, and support the health and performance of Pennsylvania’s high school athletes. Join us in advancing chiropractic care for our communities.
Join Us in Building a Healthier Pennsylvania
These legislative priorities represent a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to modernizing Pennsylvania's healthcare system. By supporting chiropractors' ability to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care, we can address the opioid crisis, improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to the treatment options they need and deserve.
Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association
717-232-5762 | [email protected] | www.pennchiro.org
Thank you for supporting chiropractic excellence for a healthier Pennsylvania.