Chiropractors say Senate Bill is Out of Alignment

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Updated: 8:57 PM Apr 11, 2006

Chiropractors say Senate Bill is Out of Alignment

A lot of people choose to visit their chiropractors -- sometimes even before their physicians -- when something's wrong. But chiropractors say a bill in the U.S. Senate could take away insurance coverage for many of their patients.

Posted: 7:06 PM Apr 11, 2006
Reporter: Alison Struve

Chiropractors say Senate Bill is Out of Allignment

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A lot of people choose to visit their chiropractors; sometimes even before their physicians when something's wrong.

But chiropractors say a bill in the U.S. Senate could take away insurance coverage for many of their patients.

The idea behind S.1955 is to make it easier for small businesses to give their employees health insurance.

Instead of going by Wisconsin's mandated benefits, this plan allows small business organizations to pool their resources across state lines, saving them 15- to 30 percent...

But those plans don't have to give employees those guaranteed benefits.

Chiropractors say those mandates make sure patients get the care they need, including diabetes treatment, maternity coverage and chiropractic care.

And they say it would force many of their patients to cut down their care, or pay higher prices.

"We should have the right to choose what kind of care we want for our families," says Jean Gustafson. "If I had to pay cash for chiropractic, it might be difficult to get the level of care I know i need."

Many chiropractic clinics in Northcentral Wisconsin are letting their patients know about the bill and providing form letters to their senators, asking them not to support the bill.

The American Chiropractic Association says people who want more comprehensive coverage will have to pay much higher premiums.

We checked with our Wisconsin Senators: Senator Herb Ohl is still studying the bill and Senator Russ Feingold opposes it.