July 18, 2005




An open letter to friends of the Chiropractic profession: Support for Chiropractic Scope change

The Georgia Chiropractic Association, the Georgia Council of Chiropractic and Life University have 
forged a coalition in an attempt to revise Georgiaıs antiquated Chiropractic scope of practice.  

This law, originally passed in 1921, only provides for adjustment of the articulations of the human 
body and the use of ³electric x-ray photography².  Although we have been able to add electrical 
therapeutic modalities, we are not permitted by our law to order any type of diagnostic or laboratory 
tests.  It is not clear whether physical examination is even covered by the 1921 Act.  Our law 
specifically indicates that we may not look into a patientıs ears or mouth.  Clearly modernization our 
scope of practice is overdue.

But there is now an urgent and immediate necessity for all of us to act.

An October 2004 court ruling, Colvard v. Mosley, has had dramatic impact on reimbursement for 
chiropractic and highlights the desperate need for change.  This ruling states that only those 
procedures specifically listed in the chiropractic scope of practice statute are permitted.  Aubrey T. 
Villines, General Counsel for the GCA, issued an opinion as to the impact of this ruling.  Mr. Villines 
reports that ³it appears that the court has clearly stated when chiropractors refer for procedures outside 
of their scope, the procedures must be performed under the authority of any medical provider 
competent to order the procedures.  

This has given the Medical Association of Georgia cause to suggest that they should be gatekeepers 
for all musculoskeletal conditions and that chiropractic care should be by medical referral only.  All 
fifty states license chiropractors as direct access providers.  Can you imagine the arrogance of the 
medical profession to suggest that they should be in charge of referring patients to chiropractors?  I 
think we all know how this would work.  

These are the same people who were convicted of trying to ³contain and eliminate² the chiropractic 
profession.  They continue to believe that they are chosen to carry Americaıs healthcare torch.  They 
told us that our education was junk and that we would not know how to read a laboratory test or MRI 
if we ordered it.  As you can see, nothing has really changed since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 
Wilk suit in 1990.

With passage of this scope, we will be able to practice modern day chiropractic, as the citizens of this 
state deserve.  Our patients and all patients should have equal access to their chiropractor for exercise 
training, advice on diet and nutrition, and rehabilitative services on an equal footing with any other 
licensed provider.  They should have the assurance that their chiropractor can order the appropriate 
diagnostic testing when their problem looks to be beyond the scope of chiropractic care.  Since we are 
held to the same standard as any other direct access provider, we find ourselves in a most difficult 
situation, that of being responsible for diagnosing correctly, while at the same time being denied 
access to the very tests that are used to rule out pathology.    

I am writing to any and all interested parties who share a love of this great profession and who hold a 
stake in its future.  We desperately need your help.  Vendors and practice consultants will most 
certainly be impacted.  Insurers have already begun denying services they had previously been paying.  
Range of motion testing, therapeutic exercises, orthotics, neuromuscular re-education and any other 
service they interpret to be outside our scope are no longer being reimbursed.  

During the last election cycle we helped several pro-chiropractic candidates, which opened doors that 
were traditionally shut to us.  We believe that with a concerted effort, we can elect those people who 
are at least willing to give an open-minded look at our profession and our law.  Letıs not forget our 
history.  If organized medicine succeeds in taking away our right to direct access to patients, it would 
only be a matter of time before they begin looking at other states.  The profession cannot afford to 
stand idly by and watch this happen.

Please consider making a donation to the GCA Political Action Committee. Any amount that you can 
spare will be appreciated. You may send a check to the address at the top of the page, or call 770-923-
3707 for credit card donations. If you would like to discuss this issue or have questions you may call 
229-386-8800 and I will gladly take your call. I thank you in advance for your kindness and 
generosity.



Sincerely,

Jeff A. Slocum, D.C.

Jeff A. Slocum, D.C. 
President, GCA Political Action Committee

JAS/mn