[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3476 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3476
To require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan to
provide chiropractic health care services and benefits as part of the
TRICARE program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 7, 2003
Mr. Schrock (for himself, Mr. Evans, Mr. Frost, Mr. Filner, Ms. Corrine
Brown of Florida, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Gillmor, Mr. English, and
Mr. Kildee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan to
provide chiropractic health care services and benefits as part of the
TRICARE program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Chiropractic Health Parity for
Military Retirees and Dependents Act''.
SEC. 2. CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CARE FOR RETIREES, DEPENDENTS, AND
SURVIVORS.
(a) Plan Required.--Not later than July 31, 2004, the Secretary of
Defense shall complete development of a plan to provide chiropractic
health care services and benefits, as a permanent part of the TRICARE
program, for covered beneficiaries.
(b) Contents of Plan.--The plan shall require that a contract
entered into under section 1097 of title 10, United States Code, for
the delivery of health care services shall--
(1) include the delivery of chiropractic services;
(2) require that chiropractic services may be provided only
by a doctor of chiropractic; and
(3) provide that a covered beneficiary may select and have
direct access to a doctor of chiropractic without referral by
another health practitioner.
(c) Implementation of Plan.--The plan developed under subsection
(a) shall provide for implementation of the plan to begin no later than
December 31, 2004.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``chiropractic services''--
(A) includes the diagnosis (including by diagnostic
X-ray tests), correction, and management of vertebral
subluxations or neuromusculoskeletal conditions, and
such other chiropractic services determined appropriate
by the Secretary; and
(B) does not include the use of drugs or surgery.
(2) The term ``covered beneficiary'' has the meaning
provided by section 1072(5) of title 10, United States Code.
(3) The term ``doctor of chiropractic'' includes only a
doctor of chiropractic who is licensed as such by the State in
which chiropractic services are furnished.
(4) The term ``TRICARE program'' has the meaning provided
by section 1072(7) of title 10, United States Code.
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