• Green BN
• Dunn AS

• Affiliation / National University of Health Sciences
• Affiliation / New York Chiropractic College. Department of Chiropractic Clinical Sciences
• Affiliation / VA Western New York Healthcare System. Chiropractic Department
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Illinois / Lombard
• Affiliation(G) / United States / New York / Buffalo
• Affiliation(G) / United States / New York / Seneca Falls
• Military Chiropractic
• Military Health Services / organization and administration
• United States. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide an essential overview of chiropractic services in United States military and veterans’ health care systems.

Methods: We reviewed literature, legislation, and policies from 1936 through September 2021 pertaining to chiropractic services in the United States military and veterans’ health systems. Using these sources and our combined experience in these systems, we identified fundamental themes in the delivery of chiropractic care in the health care systems of the Department of Defense (providing health care for active duty service members) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (providing health care for veterans) in main topic areas.

Results: We identified 7 main topic areas relevant to the 2 systems: populations served by chiropractors; health care systems; integration; utilization and supply of chiropractic care; vetting of chiropractors; roles and evaluation of chiropractors; and oversight and leadership. Key information about chiropractic care in these systems was synthesized into the main topic areas. Benefits of high-quality within-system chiropractic care to active-duty service members and veterans are presented. The assets that within-system chiropractors bring to the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs health care systems are discussed for each main topic area.

Conclusion: This article contains an essential overview of chiropractic services in the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It offers clarity regarding the integration of chiropractic services into these health care systems and includes a 1-page brief of talking points that may help better inform ongoing discussions of chiropractic services in these 2 different but intertwined environments.

Author keywords: Chiropractic; Health Policy; Military Health Services; Veterans Health Services

Author affiliations: BNG; National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, Illinois; ASD: Chiropractic Department, VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York; Department of Chiropractic Clinical Sciences, New York Chiropractic College, Seneca Falls, New York

This abstact is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Free full text will be available June 22, 2022 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8720651.