What Is the Scope of Practice of Chiropractors?

By Dr. Brent Wells, DC

A woman getting a massage while lying on her side.

Chiropractic: What Is It?

Chiropractic is a philosophy, art, and science. A diagnosis is made through observation and testing, and then treatment is performed based on training and experience. This is a similar process used by a medical doctor. The main dissimilarity is that some doctors may treat patients with surgery and drugs so as to deal with signs of pain and illness.

Chiropractic is the art of restoring the body to its natural state by using different styles and techniques. Chiropractic philosophy is the realization that the body needs to function correctly. The body always looks for homeostasis (a state of balance). Failure to find a state of balance, the body may undergo a disease process.

As a science, chiropractic practice is acknowledged, amassed knowledge, formulated and systematized with respect to the presence of general facts. Chiropractic refers to the knowledge of consecutive sense of impressions of biology. Generally, chiropractic is created out of principles that have existed through time.

Chiropractic Scope of Practice by State

Every state in the United States has a chiropractic practice act that sets forth a definition of chiropractic care and establishes the parameters for the scope of chiropractic practice within that state. As much as there is great variance in practice statutes from one state to another, doctors of chiropractic who enter practice in a specific state must acquaint themselves with the chiropractic scope of practice requirement of that legal jurisdiction.

The scope of practice statutes usually addresses two separate areas of practice: diagnosis and treatment. The more substantial statutes permit a chiropractor to use any method of diagnosis that is taught in the chiropractic institutions. The more conservative statutes limit methods of diagnosis and may restrict a doctor of chiropractic’s use of such methods as urine and blood testing.

As far as treatment is concerned, the more substantial statutes allow a chiropractor to use any treatment taught in the chiropractic institutions, including nutritional counseling and physical therapy in support of chiropractic care. The more conservative chiropractic scope of practice statutes may restrict the modes of treatment and may exclude nutritional counseling and physical therapy.

If a court establishes that a chiropractor has acted beyond the legal scope of practice, then this may lead to a number of consequences.

  • The chiropractor may lose his or her state licensure

  • The chiropractor may have nullified his or her malpractice insurance coverage

Chiropractic Evidence-Based Practice

All states in the United States do currently omit surgery and drug prescription from chiropractic practice. Generally, the variation of the scope of practice from one state to another are classified as:

Restrictive Scope of Practice

A state is categorized as restrictive in chiropractic scope if it clearly restricts doctors of chiropractic from conducting two or more of the following:

  • Giving nutritional advice to their patients
  • Dispensing vitamin supplements
  • Use of physiotherapy modalities
  • Use of venipuncture for diagnostic reasons

The states that are considered restrictive include Michigan, Washington, Tennessee, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Mississippi.

Expansive Scope of Practice

A state that has an expansive scope is one that permits three or more of the following:

  • Acupuncture using needles
  • The signing of death and birth certificates
  • Venipuncture for lab diagnosis
  • Rectal and pelvic examinations
  • Specialty diagnostic procedures

A chiropractor in such a state may use physiotherapy instruments, give nutritional supplements, and give nutritional advice among other things. This category includes Oregon, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Idaho.

Intermediate Scope of Practice

The other remaining states have an intermediate scope of practice that falls in between restrictive and expansive. Chiropractors in these states can practice so much except for signing death or birth certificates and conducting pelvic examinations.

According to a survey completed in 2011 by the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards that collected data on chiropractic practice as well as the ability of chiropractors to conduct 97 diagnostic, evaluation, and management services by state, complete or partial responses were obtained from 96% of the states in the USA.

The states that recorded the most services that could be carried out were:

  • Alabama (86)

  • Illinois (87)

  • Oklahoma (88)

  • Utah (89)

  • Kansas (89)

  • New Mexico (91)

  • Missouri (92)

The states that recorded the most services that could not be carried out were:

  • Texas (30)

  • Mississippi (39)

  • New Jersey (39)

  • Michigan (42)

  • Hawaii (47)

  • New Hampshire (49)

The additional information provided by the survey regarding specific services that doctors of chiropractic can and cannot conduct in a number of states include:

  • In New York, a chiropractor may perform a cursory breast examination in the event of a skin eruption or referred vertebral pain to the chest.

  • Electrolysis is considered a minor surgical procedure in Oregon, but it needs specialty certification in minor surgery.

  • Ohio chiropractors can conduct non-ablative laser therapy but in relation to musculoskeletal conditions.

  • Chiropractors in all but Wisconsin, Kentucky, and District of Columbia can conduct traction without extra education.

  • Apart from allowing Para-spinal soft tissue work and trigger point therapy, Hawaii is the only state that doesn’t allow massage therapy.

  • Hawaii does not also permit extremity adjusting by chiropractors.

  • Apart from Rhode Island, rehabilitation can be conducted in all jurisdictions.

  • In all but Washington, doctors of chiropractors are allowed to conduct temporomandibular joint evaluation along with treatment.

Conflicts of opinion exist regarding the chiropractic scope of practice. According to the International Chiropractic Association, their goal is to maintain as well as promote the unique identity of chiropractic as a surgical-free, drugless, and non-therapeutic health science that depends on its fundamental principles as well as philosophy.

On the other hand, non-chiropractic organizations, such as the Texas Medical Association have weighed the scope of practice of chiropractors. The Texas Medical Association, in particular, sued so as to contest the right of DCs to diagnose non-musculoskeletal ailments. Even though the court succeeded in striking down the contest, this is a clear indication that there is an emerging influence on the legal scope of chiropractic.

Can a Chiropractor Prescribe Meds?

In 49 out of the 50 American states, chiropractors cannot prescribe medication. For most chiropractors, this is not a hindrance to their profession. Chiropractic is and always has been a natural, non-invasive, non-surgical, and drug-free profession. In fact, some studies show that chiropractic care has enabled people to reduce or stop taking addictive medication such as opioids.

The idea behind chiropractic care is to relieve pain naturally by fixing issues and injuries in the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors look at the body as a whole and treat it in a manner consistent with keeping the entire body healthy and functioning properly.

Many people come to chiropractors looking for alternatives to their dangerous, addictive, or disruptive medication. While not every patient is able to stop taking their medication after seeing a chiropractor, many are able to do so.

Of course, some patients may need medications for their illness or pain. Chiropractors realize this and often work very closely with a patient’s prescribing physician during treatment. After all, the goal of the chiropractic profession is to get and keep their patients healthy.

States That Allow Chiropractors to Prescribe

As mentioned above, there is only one state that currently allows chiropractors to prescribe medications: New Mexico.

The law, New Mexico Senate Bill 150, has caused some contention and concern around the country. In 2017, years after it had already been passed, the bill was tabled by the New Mexico Senate. However, because of New Mexico’s laws, tabling the bill didn’t prevent specially trained chiropractors from prescribing medications.

Chiropractors in that state have to go through special training in order to receive approval to prescribe drugs. These chiropractors are known as “Advanced Chiropractors”. There are now hundreds of Advanced Chiropractors in New Mexico.

The other 49 states do not allow their chiropractors to prescribe drugs, although some states are reportedly trying to change the law to one similar to New Mexico’s.

The scope of chiropractic care still remains the same in most of the country. It’s still a safe, non-invasive, drug-free, science-based treatment for numerous issues involving the musculoskeletal system.

The Principles of Chiropractic

There are 33 principles of chiropractic based on Ralph W. Stephenson, DC’s Chiropractic Textbook, and they include:

1.The Major Premise

Chiropractic assumes a major premise in that there is a Collective Intelligence that governs all matter; any inference obtained from the major premise is subjected to specific scrutiny. The precision is suitable for chiropractic. Instead of operating in a cloud of generalities, chiropractors prefer specifics.

2.The Chiropractic Meaning of Life

The quality that matter is said to possess, is what intelligence is giving, which is life. Chiropractic sees life as a quality or character that matter may have; induced by the presence of intelligence that has a continuation that involves time. Life is a combination of intelligence, force, and matter. While matter makes up the material universe, intelligence is the immaterial universe, and force is what binds them together.

3.The Union of Intelligence and Matter

Matter could not exist without intelligence, and intelligence could not be conveyed without matter. When we observe matter moving, we are aware of motion. According to physics, matter moves because of energy that gets into it, and matter is inert without the energy.

4.The Triune of Life

Life is considered a Triunity, consisting of three necessary factors: matter, force, and intelligence. Matter couldn’t exist without intelligence, and intelligence couldn’t be conveyed without matter. Force is the bond that binds matter and intelligence. Basically, matter, intelligence, and force (bond) are inseparable.

5.The Perfection of the Triune

100% matter, 100% force, and 100% intelligence form 100% life. The three components of the triune are usually inseparable. Intelligence will always be 100% perfect, and it normally produces 100% force. This means that any imperfections will be because of matter.

6.The Principle of Time

Every process requires time. Time is considered as part of the Triunity as an element. The bonding between matter and intelligence requires time.

7.The Amount of Intelligence in Matter

Matter is considered to always have 100% intelligence, and is always relative to its requirements.

8.The Function of Intelligence

The main purpose of intelligence is to produce force. The fact that intelligence is in the universe means that it has a function. Apart from being the origin of force, thinking is the function of intelligence.

9.The Amount of Force Created by Intelligence

Intelligence always creates 100% force. The fact that force is immaterial means that intelligence can create it as it feels fit. However, intelligence is perfect so it creates 100% of force and no more or less.

10.The Function of Force

Force’s main function is to unite matter and intelligence. Matter is the only thing that tells us of the existence of intelligence. It is the building force of intelligence that creates structures of matter.

11.The Character of Universal Forces

Universal intelligence forces are demonstrated as physical laws. They are unadapted and unswerving and they do not have consideration for the structures of matter.

12.Interference with Transmission of Universal Forces

Universal forces are subjected to interference during transmission.

13.The Function of Matter

Matter’s function is to express force. We are only aware of the forces when matter expresses them.

14.Universal Life in All Matter

All matter has universal life because all matter possesses motion, and motion in matter is what manifests force.

15.No Motion Without the Effort of Force

Intelligence’s application of force is what gives matter motion.

16.Intelligence in Both Inorganic and Organic Matter

It is universal intelligence that provides force to both inorganic and organic matter.

17.Cause and Effect

cannot exist without effect and effect cannot exist without cause.

18.Evidence of Life

Intelligence of life is evidence of signs of life.

19.Organic Matter

Organic matter is what constitutes the body of a living being. Organic matter is made up of structures of atoms and molecules that are assembled together for the purpose of proper functioning.

20.Innate Intelligence

Something that lives has innate intelligence within its body.

21.The Mission of Innate Intelligence

It is the innate intelligence that ensures the material of a living being’s body stays in active organization.

22.The Amount of Innate Intelligence

Every living thing is made up of 100% innate intelligence.

23.The Function of Innate Intelligence

Innate intelligence’s function is to adapt matter and universal forces for use in the body.

24.The Limits of Adaptation

Innate intelligence does adapt matter and forces for the body on condition that it can do so without going against universal law.

25.The Character of Innate Forces

Innate forces are not destructive but constructive.

26.Comparison of Innate and Universal Forces

With reference to structural matter, universal forces are usually destructive while innate forces are normally constructive.

27.The Normalcy of Innate Intelligence

Innate intelligence is considered to be normal as well as its function.

28.The Conductor of Innate Force

Innate intelligence’s forces operate over or through the nervous system.

29.Interference with the Transmission of Innate Forces

The transmission of innate forces can experience interference.

30.The Cause of Disease

If the transmission of innate forces is interfered with, this may lead to disease or incoordination.

31.Subluxations

Subluxations in the vertebral column cause interference with transmission either indirectly or directly.

32.The Principle of Coordination

This is the regulation of diverse elements into an integrated and harmonious operation in fulfilling purposes and offices.

33.The Law of Demand and Supply

The body consists of the law of demand and supply in its ideal state.

Insurance Coverage for Juneau Chiropractic Care

Not sure if chiropractic is right for you? We can tell you if your insurance will cover your chiropractic care! Just call our chiropractors in Juneau at (907) 796-3333 and let us check your insurance for you.

In Conclusion

Just as it is with other healthcare professions, each state in the United States of America has its own scope of practice statutes, regulations, and licensing requirements for chiropractic doctors. As we have seen earlier, typically, the scope of practice of chiropractors in the different states includes broad diagnostic authority and laboratory analysis.

Although some states limit the use of invasive procedures, such as the use of venipuncture for diagnostic reasons, all states allow chiropractors to use spinal manipulation as a primary intervention. And the majority of states allow the practice of physiological therapeutics under the scope of chiropractic. However, chiropractors in the US are not permitted to perform major surgeries or prescribe drugs.

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The portrait of Dr. Brent Wells.

Dr. Brent Wells, D.C.

About the Author

Dr. Brent Wells has been a trusted chiropractor since moving his family from Oregon to Alaska back in 1998 and founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab – B.S. from Univ. of Nevada, Doctorate from Western States Chiropractic College, volunteer for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Foundation, and member of the American Chiropractic Association. As a chiropractor his focus is on family, including his 3 children and wife of 20+ years, his clinics, and ongoing education.

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