LEGISLATIVE
Legislative Overview
Since 1964, ICS has been serving as the only organization advocating for DCs in Iowa. We take great pride and care in assisting members and building alliances and coalitions with other providers, payers, businesses, government, and communities to improve healthcare outcomes through chiropractic care. ICS has a proud history of successfully pursuing changes at the Iowa legislature to advance access to chiropractic care. The collective voice of our membership has been effective.
How the AMA Tried to Destroy Chiropractic: What sounds like an elaborate spy novel is actually the real-life story of how the American Medical Association once plotted to get rid of the chiropractic profession. Don't miss this surprisingly thrilling webinar series provided by NCMIC!
- The Committee on Quackery
- Spies and Counterspies
- Middle-of-the-Night Witness Disappearances
NCMIC is excited to present a three-part webinar series that tells the story of how the American Medical Association set out to "Contain & Eliminate" the chiropractic profession.
Legislative Priorities
The legislative year provides opportunities to both protect and advance the profession at the state and federal levels. The ICS will:
Actively address issues that are extremely viable to pass. These are bills or rules that DCs cannot ignore because there is a high likelihood of passing, they may likely have a high impact on our profession, and the timing is immediate.
Seek opportunities to advance the profession through bills or rules that have a path for including DCs.
Monitor bills that have the ability to impact the profession but are not likely to pass. Though the likelihood of them passing may be low, ICS needs to always be prepared that circumstances change and DCs may need to respond.
ICS has provided our doctors tools, training and talking points so you are prepared to talk with your state legislators and congressmen and continue to build your relationships!
2025 Legislative Session Recap
The 2025 Iowa Legislative Session officially adjourned at 6:31AM on May 14th, bringing an end to a session that stretched beyond its scheduled conclusion as lawmakers worked to finalize the state budget. The final sticking point was a $36 million gap between the House and Senate, which was ultimately resolved in the closing week.
Key Takeaways from the 2025 Session:
- Budget Negotiations: The session was extended primarily due to disagreements over final budget numbers. Once resolved, the legislature moved quickly to conclude its work.
- Property Tax Reform: While several proposals were discussed throughout session, no major property tax legislation affecting chiropractic clinics or other small businesses made it across the finish line. We monitored this closely and will continue to do so heading into the interim.
- Scope and Licensing Protections: There were no major changes to scope of practice or licensing laws impacting chiropractic this year. We were engaged throughout the process to ensure the profession remained protected and appropriately represented.
- Healthcare-Related Legislation: A number of healthcare bills moved through the process, but none with a direct negative impact on chiropractic. ICS remained active in tracking amendments and engaging legislators as needed.
- Chiropractic Visibility at the Capitol: One of the highlights of the session was the strong showing at Chiropractic Day on the Hill. With over 50 chiropractors in attendance and 40+ legislators participating, it was a strong reminder of the value of grassroots advocacy.
Looking Ahead:
While this year was relatively quiet in terms of chiropractic-specific legislation, we anticipate that larger healthcare and tax issues may return in future sessions.
Maintaining relationships with your local lawmakers and staying engaged at the grassroots level remains essential. Your involvement is key to ensuring our voice is heard early and often.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the profession and for standing with us throughout the 2025 legislative session.
Your participation in grassroots makes a difference!
- Talk with your legislators ... it’s their job and they love to do it!
- Donate to their local fundraisers.
- Attend Capitol Day.
- Attend your legislative socials.
- Give to the PAC!
Chiropractic Associations
Seek Opportunities!
ICS will continue to seek opportunities that:
- Expand DC involvement in opioid prevention strategies.
Background: DCs play a critical role in patient pain management. Chiropractic care relies on non-surgery, non-pharmacologic therapy, preventing opioid abuse and addiction. ICS will continue to seek opportunities to participate in opioid prevention strategies across the state. - Expand Iowa code to allow DCs to do physicals at pre-school level.
Background: Currently, DCs may conduct physicals for students K-12. ICS will continue to seek opportunities so specifically include this provision to include pre-school in Iowa code. - Ensure DCs remain in all of the PCP talks for upcoming bills.
Background: In 2017, DCs were designated as a primary care provider (PCP) in the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan. ICS will continue to ensure DCs are at the table as it relates to PCPs discussions in the state. - Remove x-ray requirement for Medicaid and push for more services covered.
Background: Currently, DCs are required to conduct x-rays before they provide care. In many cases, this is not necessary and a waste of state dollars. ICS will continue to seek opportunities to remove this requirement for DCs and expand service coverage in Medicaid. - Advance open access provider panels for all state employees.
Background: The ICPC network is primarily a closed network with limited provider participation. Any new providers who are able to join receive minimal reimbursement with expansion of the provider network. This network reduces patient access to care, provider participation, and reimbursement. - Limit the chiropractic adjustment to the chiropractic profession and do not let other professions "rename" the use of the adjustment to utilize in their technique.
Background: Other professions will attempt to provide services specific to the chiropractic profession such as a chiropractic adjustment, thrust manipulation and acupuncture which is outside of their scope of practice. ICS will continue to monitor any attempt by other professions to infringe on chiropractors’ scope of practice.
Monitor Bills
ICS will monitor bills and provide legislative updates during the legislative session. Watch for weekly emails during this time. If you missed an update, please log in to review prior messages from the ICS lobbyist.
For questions related to advocacy, please get in touch with the ICS Lobbyist, Matt Fitzgerald, at any time with your questions and legislative concerns.
Give to the PAC
Nearly every influential organization has a strong political action committee (PAC). What’s a PAC and why are they important?
PACs are the vehicle that support candidates who support and fight for your interests. With today’s political environment, every organization has mobilized their membership to grow their PAC donations. Too much is on the line which we experienced these past legislative sessions. In the 2020 legislative session, a bill was poised to pass that could have nearly decimated the chiropractic profession – your profession, your living, your life’s work. Had this bill passed, others could have practiced chiropractic without the education you have so worked so hard earned, the quality standards you’re expected to uphold, and the training and expertise you’ve acquired over time. Your marketing manager, CA or office manager could have had the opportunity to practice as a chiropractor.
We think that’s wrong! So, membership acted quickly, worked with the governor’s office, and had the bill amended to ensure this didn’t happen. We put the power back in the hands of DCs. While we were successful, we cannot continue to let these things happen. We’ll continue to fight for the interests of DCs.
ICS provides one, unified voice for chiropractic care to the Iowa legislature and the Iowa Board of Chiropractic. ICS advocates in the Iowa legislature for health care legislation that allows patient freedom and access to chiropractic care, as well as ensuring that the unified voice of chiropractic care is heard in any healthcare discussion. No other organization is looking out for DCs. ICS is your trusted champion.
Your donation to the Iowa Chiropractic Society PAC makes an impact. Make your voice heard. Consider a donation today. Any amount helps and no amount is too small. Every commitment is valued. Making a donation is easy and convenient.
Why is it important to give to the PAC?
MESSAGE FROM ICS LOBBYIST - Matt Fitzgerald
Please consider donating to the ICS PAC so we can continue to defend our profession. Thank you to those who have donated.
PAC Donation Levels
Champion
$1,000 or more
Contributor
$500- $999
Defender
$250 - $499
Supporter
$101 - $249
Friend
$100 or less
PLEASE NOTE: PAC donations must be made from personal accounts.
Thank You
ICS would like to sincerely thank all of our 2024 donors who have generously contributed to the PAC.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the members who generously contributed directly to legislators on behalf of ICS throughout the year.
Champion: $1,000 or More
Dr. Christine Bowman, DC
Dr. Bradley Brown, DC
Dr. Michael Hahn, DC
Dr. Wesley Nyberg, DC
Dr. Richard Robert, DC
Dr. Jenny Slykhuis-McDowell, DC
Contributor: $500-$999
Dr. Mickey Burt, DC
Dr. Carmen Clemenson, DC
Dr. Nicholas DeRocher, DC
Dr. Aaron Dixon, DC
Dr. Larry Heffron, DC
Dr. David Johnson, DC
Dr. Mark Kauffman, DC
Dr. Christopher LoRang, DC
Dr. Wayne Meylor, DC
Dr. Lonnie Pitts, DC
Dr. Michael Powell, DC
Dr. Aaron Roelfs, DC
Dr. Tom Schiltz, DC
Dr. Kourtne Shanahan Powell, DC
Dr. Shane Townsend, DC
Dr. Russell Van Hemert, DC
Dr. Dennis Vonnahme, DC
Dr. Lauri Wondra, DC
Dr. Tim Wondra, DC
Defender: $250-$499
Dr. Deanna Bates, DC
Dr. Matthew Dietz, DC
Dr. Ronald Masters II, DC
Dr. Neal Meylor, DC
Dr. Lucas Nelson, DC
Dr. Doug Olsen, DC
Dr. Brett Pearson, DC
Dr. Randall Stange, DC
Supporter: $101-$249
Dr. Bret Bartholomew, DC
Dr. Brent DeRocher, DC
Dr. Mark Parsons, DC
Friend: $100 or less
Dr. Terry Burk, DC
Dr. Richard Elbert, DC
Dr. Kathleen Voortmann, DC
Advocacy
What is advocacy? Advocacy comes in a variety of forms from speaking directly with your legislator, donating to a cause or attending events that support an initiative.
The ICS seeks to keep our members continuously informed about legislative, regulatory and policy matters and engage our members in the advocacy process. There are times when legislators need to hear directly from their constituent chiropractors and chiropractic patients. When these situations arise, we will reach out and ask members to make calls and write letters. The rise of electronic communications, email, and social media have changed the landscape of advocacy. ICS is evolving with the times of social media communication and will maximize our messaging through these newer forms of communication. We will from time to time suggest our members actively utilize these tools to speak out and have your voice heard on pending legislation and policies.
Find Your Legislator
Don’t know who your legislators are? Find your local legislator in your district.
