NJ Passes Scope of Practice Awaits Governor Corzine Signature

Association of NJ Chiropractors Lauds Passage of New Scope of Practice - S-565 / A-2029

The Association of New Jersey Chiropractors, which represents approximately 1600 chiropractors statewide, is extremely grateful and pleased with the vote completed on Monday, January 11, 2010, in the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly that ushers in a new scope of practice for chiropractic care in the state for the first time since 1953.

Senate bill S-565 sponsored by Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senator Loretta Weinberg, and Assembly bill A-2029, sponsored by Assembly leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, Assemblyman Diegnan, Assemblyman DeAngelo and Assemblyman Scalera were passed with clear majorities.

ANJC has been working closely in a bipartisan manner with state legislators over the past five years to enact passage of this long overdue scope of practice change, which enhances the way chiropractors treat and manage patients. There are over 3000 chiropractors actively practicing in New Jersey who will benefit.

“This new scope of practice is not only historic for the chiropractic profession in New Jersey but, most importantly, serves as a victory for the one million patients we treat statewide each year who benefit from chiropractic care,” said Dr. Steven Clarke, President of the ANJC.

Dr. Sigmund Miller, ANJC executive director, goes on to say, “The chiropractic profession has turned the corner with the passage of our scope of practice. Chiropractic patients and the general public will benefit mostly, as chiropractors continue to serve as the cultural authority on wellness and in improving the quality of life for thousands of people, statewide.”

Some of the components legislated by this new scope of practice include:

• Term chiropractic subluxation, for the first time, is now written into statute.
• Permits chiropractors to provide dietary/nutritional counseling, and the ability to dispense nutritional supplements.
• Permits chiropractors to diagnose, analyze and treat all joints and soft tissues of the body independent of spinal subluxation.
• Splinting and bracing, for the first time, will be put into law so that collars, braces and sports taping are forever adjuncts to chiropractic care.
• Permits chiropractors to administer physical modalities and therapeutic, rehabilitative and strengthening exercises.
• Chiropractors can sign or certify temporary or permanent impairments and other certifications consistent with a chiropractic practice, such as pre-employment screenings.
• Makes it unlawful for any person, other than a NJ licensed chiropractor, to render a utilization management decision that limits, restricts or curtails a course of chiropractic care.
• Consistent with chiropractic practice provide a full complement of diagnostic and analytical tests similar to other physicians.
• Requires chiropractors to maintain malpractice liability insurance.
• Requires chiropractors every two years to complete 30 credits for continuing education.

“We’ve been operating under the most archaic scope of practice in the country. Since NJ last amended the chiropractic scope of practice in 1953, most of what chiropractors have been currently allowed to do is provided in regulation and in case law, but hadn’t been placed into statute. This legislation now puts those regulations and case laws into statute,” added Clarke.

For more information contact ANJC executive director by emailing [email protected] or calling headquarters at 908.722.5678.