The Wisconsin Chiropractic Association is supporting state legislation that would create a new Primary Spine Care Practitioner (PSCP) practice act and education program for chiropractors who wish to obtain advanced training in evidence informed clinical interventions.
CLICK HERE to read the WCA Primary Spine Care Practitioner FAQ
CLICK HERE to read the official WCA press release announcing its support of the PSCP legislation
CLICK HERE to read WCA Executive Director John Murray’s letter to the membership
CLICK HERE to read the full bill, with a summary from the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau
CLICK HERE to read the WCA Board’s official policy memo on Practice Freedom
Here are the facts on the Primary Spine Care Practitioner legislation
Back and neck pain are an enormous medical challenge. Half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.1
This is the future of the profession. The future of American health care is “integrated’’ and “patient centered.’’ That means teams of specialists would be assigned to patients to provide a package of health care and wellness services, including integrated treatment of lower back and neck pain.
Chiropractors are lower back and neck pain experts. Because chiropractors are uniquely trained to treat the causes of that pain, they can play a central role in the delivery of excellent, efficient patient care.
This is voluntary. The proposed legislation will allow the expansion of chiropractors’ scope of practice, but only for licensed Wisconsin chiropractors who choose to do so.
It will be regulated. The proposal would require the state Medical Examining Board to oversee the two-year program and issue a second chiropractic license called a Primary Spine Care Practitioner.
This is conservative. As conservative care providers, chiropractors have the best baseline training to help patients manage pain without the use of opiates or other addictive drugs. The WCA feels the addition of well-trained chiropractors to help manage pain could—and should—reduce the use of opiate-based pain medications.
1 – Vallfors B. Acute, Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Symptoms, Absenteeism and Working Environment. Scan J Rehab Med Suppl 1985; 11: 1-98.
If you have any questions about this, contact the WCA at 608-256-7023
You can read the proposed legislation HERE