Legislative Watch List

The 2026 legislative session is in full swing, and my focus remains steadfast on protecting your right to practice and ensuring our patients have unhindered access to the high-quality chiropractic care they deserve. The IPSCA along with our lobbyist is currently monitoring several key bills in the Illinois House and Senate that have direct implications for our profession:

Watch List

• HB 4596 — Combating Health Misinformation Act This bill establishes a “Health Misinformation Response Unit.”Dr. Brant Hulsebus (IPSCA President) has personally written to the bill’s author to express our concerns. Historically, the chiropractic profession has been a frequent target of medical misinformation spread by the very associations this bill seeks to empower as “authorities.” We are demanding transparency to ensure this unit is not used as a tool to unfairly marginalize chiropractic physicians.
• HB 4735 — Transparency in Downcoding Act While this bill aims to restrict insurers from using automated tools to downcode claims, it currently contains language requiring downcoding reviews to be performed by a “physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches” (MD/DO).
• The Risk: This could reinforce a medical gatekeeping framework.
• Our Action: We are pushing for amendments to ensure that “provider-type parity” is respected, and that chiropractic claims are reviewed by chiropractic peers, not MDs unfamiliar with our specialty.
• HB 4709 — Standardized Prior Authorization Act This is a “vehicle” bill that repeals the existing Prior Authorization Reform Act to create a new framework.
• The Benefit: It could reduce “surprise denials” by requiring insurers to post all PA requirements publicly.
• The Burden: It may require clinics to adopt new electronic standardized processes. We are monitoring this closely to ensure chiropractors are explicitly included in the protections and not burdened by unrealistic compliance timelines.
• SB 2988 — Scoliosis Screening Coverage This bill mandates insurance coverage for “spinal examinations for scoliosis.” We are advocating for language that explicitly includes chiropractors. As the most qualified primary providers in Illinois for spinal health, it is essential that DCs are recognized as the premier choice for performing school scoliosis screenings.
• SB 3295 — Insurance: Durable Medical Equipment (DME) This is a positive development. The bill creates coverage parity for DME and—crucially—explicitly lists “chiropractic physician” as a health care practitioner authorized to order such equipment. We are supporting this bill to protect your right to prescribe the tools your patients need for recovery.

A Call to Action

Our strength lies in our collective vigilance. If you become aware of any other legislation or local ordinances that might impact your ability to provide care or affect patient access, please reach out to me directly. We must stay ahead of any language that seeks to limit our scope or create administrative barriers.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the profession and for your support of the IPSCA.

Together, we will ensure that the voice of Illinois chiropractors is heard clearly in the Capitol.

Medicare Fraud Scheme Alert

National Government Services (NGS) has issued an urgent alert shared by the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for providers.

CMS has been inundated with complaints regarding illegitimate faxes being distributed to providers falsely claiming to be from CMS. These faxes falsely claim to be ppart of a Medicare audit and demands that the provider submit medical documentation and other information to CMS or face the risk of revocation, fines, or other significant consequences.

IMPORTANT: CMS does NOT initiate audits by requesting medical records via fax. All providers are urged to protect your information. If you receive a suspicious request. DO NOT respond to it. If you believe you have received a fraudulent or questionable request, you are urged to contact NGS to confirm if it’s real. To report Medicare fraud, please call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.Medicare.gov. You may also visit the CMS website at www.CMS.gov to submit a complain or find more information about reporting fraud.