Veterans

The Patriot Project: Chiropractic Care For Those Who Have Served in the Military

The Patriot Project is a grass roots movement to provide chiropractic care to all Active Military, their Families, Wounded Warriors & All Gold Star Dependents.

The Patriot Project was found by Dr. Tim Novelli, and this inspired organization started after one life changing weekend.

No one tells the story better than the man himself.

 

It’s a little known fact that chiropractic care is included in veteran’s health benefits, and it’s an underutilized option. The Patriot Project aims to change this by making chiropractic care readily available to our service members.

With adequate funding, The Patriot Project plans to develop a USO-type chiropractic care tour, visiting military bases at home and around the world, including all active forward operating bases like those in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We are calling on all chiropractors to help by becoming a patriot.  Participating doctors will make time available to treat at least one armed-service member a week at no charge. He/she will also help us collect patient testimonials, which will be used to further our cause in Congress.

 

Mission Statement

-To provide chiropractic care to active military, their families, wounded warriors, and Gold Star Dependents.

-To make full chiropractic benefits in TRICARE care readily available for ALL active duty military, retirees and veterans.

-To have chiropractic physicians commissioned as officers in all armed services.

-To have chiropractic physicians embedded in all forward operating bases of combat.

-To have a Chiropractic Department in every VA hospital and clinic.

-To educate veterans with service related disabilities; they have chiropractic benefit coverage through the Veterans Administration.

Why is The Patriot Project so important?

Military Heroes & Chiropractic

 

In 2002, President George W. Bush signed Public Law 107-135, legislation that ensured that chiropractic would become a permanent benefit for recipients of veterans’ health care services. As a result, chiropractic care was gradually added to more than 30 VA medical centers.

In the remaining 120 VA treatment facilities, however—including those in several major metropolitan areas, the chiropractic care benefit has remained virtually nonexistent.

All veterans with service related disabilities are supposed to have access to chiropractic care; if not at a hospital then in the civilian community. Chiropractic treatment is a standard VA benefit. No VA facility can state that they do not provide these essential health benefits.

Chiropractic physicians are considered specialists with the Veteran Administration and with the Department of Defense, which means the Veteran must request from their PCP an approval for them to receive chiropractic treatment.

Problem #1: Vets DO NOT KNOW they have chiropractic benefits.

Problem #2: There is no listing of chiropractic benefit within the VA HealthCare Benefit section within their website except under ancillary services.

Problem #3: Vets DO NOT KNOW the benefit they can obtain from chiropractic treatment which includes acupuncture.

Problem #4: Vets DO NOT KNOW they can appeal their PCPs denial of their requests for chiropractic treatment.

Problem #5: Armed forces families do not have chiropractic benefits.

Problem #6: Veterans reliance upon medications results in a high probability of developing additional health problems and or even developing life threatening/ending situations.

Some veterans have found their local VA is reluctant to send them for fee-basis care outside the VA facility, and have required they jump through many hoops to get a referral for a Doctor of Chiropractic. This is against VA policy and does not go along with the VA’s own stated mission to be “veteran-centered.”

Many times the VA facility is trying to save money by denying fee-basis care delivered by doctors of chiropractic, even though they spend a great deal on numerous other treatments. VA facilities are unaware that chiropractic treatment can reduce their facilities cost.

Medical literature has revealed that when insurance company limit/reduce chiropractic treatment benefits, their total costs for healthcare, actually increased.

  • A patient receiving regular chiropractic care experiences reduced hospital admissions, surgeries, and pharmaceutical costs.

 

  • Studies indicate that greater chiropractic coverage, despite increased visits to a DC, results in significant net savings in both indirect and direct costs.

 

  • Chiropractic care could reduce Medicare costs—both payment for all services and average per claim payment.

 

  • Chiropractic patients typically pay less and are more satisfied with their treatment than MD patients.

 

  • Chiropractic care can be used to control health care costs.

 

  • Chiropractic patients reach maximum medical improvement sooner than when treated by a medical doctor.

 

  • Chiropractic treatment is not an add-on, it is a direct substitution for other treatment.

 

Conclusion:

Services delivered by doctors of chiropractic are part of the standard VA benefits and no VA facility can say “do not provide” these essential health benefits. Some veterans have found their local VA is reluctant to send them for fee-basis care outside the VA facility, and have required they jump through many hoops to get a referral for a Doctor of Chiropractic. This is against VA policy and does not go along with VA’s own stated mission to be “veteran-centered.”

The Patriot Project is determined to change this, with your help.

To learn more about how you can join and help the Patriot Project, click below

Sourced through Scoop.it from: circleofdocs.com

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

It’s a little known fact that chiropractic care is included in veteran’s health benefits, and it’s an underutilized option. The Patriot Project aims to change this by making chiropractic care readily available to our service members.

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "The Patriot Project: Chiropractic Care For Those Who Have Served in the Military" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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