Multiple U.S. military bases are slated to have their chiropractic services restored this year, benefiting upwards of 400 active-duty or Guard/Reserve service members per base.
This is due to an amendment to the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was introduced by House Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) and ultimately passed both chambers of Congress, calling for the reopening of any previously closed chiropractic clinic on a military installation in addition to paying chiropractors under the General Schedule base pay scale.
The amendment calls for the director of the Defense Health Agency to develop and submit a report on the process to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, no later than March 26, 2026. Language in the amendment, initially approved by the House in September, mirrors that of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act which in 2001 established chiropractic benefits as part of the broader Department of Defense health care framework.
“I introduced this amendment because our troops and veterans deserve more choices when it comes to their health care, starting with preserving and restoring access to chiropractic services,” Steube told Military.com. “There is no excuse to shortchange our troops and veterans on care when there are options available that can ease their pain and improve their quality of life.
“I am grateful that my provision will ensure our warriors can better access holistic health care options and receive the relief they deserve.”
Improvements are expected to occur at a minimum of six military bases. Their locations have not yet been disclosed.
The Various Benefits of Chiropractic Care
The benefits of chiropractic care for military members have been pontificated for years, being utilized by members still in service as well as veterans who seek both physical and mental help.
These are services that can be provided by clinics or hospitals, made possible through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and through programs overseen by TRICARE. Chiropractors can have copious impacts on service members of all backgrounds, in areas including physical pain, injuries or stress.
The services, part of the standard VA medical package and accessible with a referral from a VA primary care provider, can also treat other issues including headaches, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), posture, flexibility and sleep deprivation.
Previous reporting by Military.com found that about a quarter of U.S. service members and veterans who start psychotherapy for PTSD quit before their treatments’ conclusion, reinforcing calls for more effective long-term approaches.
A 2018 study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA involved four-year clinical trials at multiple U.S. military sites, finding that adding chiropractic care to routine medical care resulted in moderate short-term improvements in low back pain intensity and disability in active-duty military personnel. It was the broadest study conducted at the time of evaluating the benefits of chiropractors to service members.
The findings also showed that additional support in this area acts as a component of multidisciplinary health care for low back pain.
“We thank Rep. Steube for his foresight to tackle this issue, and we also acknowledge House and Senate negotiators who kept the bulk of his amendment in the final package,” John Falardeau, American Chiropractic Association (ACA) senior vice president of public policy and advocacy, said in a statement.
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