Bill
HR 539
H.R. 539 would expand Medicare to recognize doctors of chiropractic for services within their licensed scope, but payment requires Secretary-verified education or remains limited t
Status overview
- Introduced in House: January 16, 2025 (Rep. W. Gregory Steube, et al.). Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means. Companion bill: S. 106.
- Note on materials provided: the packet included multiple, unrelated documents also numbered “HR 539” (state/local resolutions — e.g., a Georgia bridge dedication and an Illinois memorial for Linda N. Hoefert). This summary focuses on the federal H.R. 539 that would amend Medicare law.
Purpose and intent
- To expand Medicare recognition and coverage of services furnished by doctors of chiropractic by treating a doctor of chiropractic as a “physician” under Medicare (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act) for services the chiropractor is licensed to perform in that State or jurisdiction.
- The goal stated in the bill is to modernize Medicare chiropractic coverage to align more closely with coverage in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, and many private insurers.
Key provisions — what the bill would change
1. Revision to physician definition (statutory text change)
- Amends 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(r)(5) (section 1861(r)(5) of the Social Security Act) to replace the current narrow language that effectively limits Medicare chiropractic recognition to treatment defined as “manual manipulation of the spine (to correct a subluxation).”
- New language recognizes “a doctor of chiropractic… licensed by the State in which the function or action is performed and whose license provides legal authorization to perform such function or action” — i.e., recognition for any functions/actions within the scope of the chiropractor’s State license.
Who would be affected
- Medicare beneficiaries: potential broader access to chiropractic-provided care covered by Medicare when furnished within a chiropractor’s licensed scope.
- Doctors of chiropractic: could obtain Medicare recognition for a wider array of services they are licensed to perform, subject to the verification requirement.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)/HHS Secretary: would need to design and administer the verification/webinar process and implement corresponding payment rules and coding/coverage updates.
- Medicare program finances: potential changes to utilization and expenditures depending on service uptake, substitution for other therapies, and payment rates.
Procedural and implementation notes
- The bill amends statutory definitions and adds a payment condition, so implementation would require CMS rulemaking, updates to claims processing and provider enrollment systems, and creation of the Secretary‑designed verification/webinar product.
- Fiscal effects are not specified in the text; a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score would likely be required to estimate net Medicare outlays and beneficiary impacts.
Bottom line
H.R. 539 would broaden Medicare’s statutory recognition of doctors of chiropractic to cover physicians’ services they are licensed to perform (beyond current narrow spinal-manipulation limits), while conditioning Medicare payment on a one-time Secretary-verified educational verification (or limiting payments to traditional spinal manipulation). The change aims to modernize coverage and align Medicare with other federal and private coverage models, but it would require CMS implementation and could shift Medicare utilization and spending depending on uptake.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
