Chiropractic Usage Increases in the Veterans Health Administration

Plos One published a research article on January 13, 2025, showing that the demand for chiropractic services continues to increase by veterans according to the Veterans Health Administration (VA). The research was also published that same day on the National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information website. The study predicts that the demand for chiropractic services will continue to increase for the next five years.

The study begins by reporting that "The Veterans Health Administration (VA) introduced chiropractic services in stages starting in Fiscal Year (FY) 2001, and since then has steadily expanded its chiropractic care delivery." They also report that the expansion was driven by Congressional mandates and by public demand. Another driving factor is that musculoskeletal pain and injuries is prevalent among military personnel.

Chiropractic care for veterans is delivered in two ways. The primary way is through chiropractors being present at VA facilities and delivering the care on-site. In areas where that is not feasible, chiropractic care is also delivered by chiropractors at private facilities who are part of the VA chiropractic delivery system.

The study showed that in the fiscal year of 2017, 1.4% of VA patients received chiropractic care. By 2022, that rate had more than doubled to 3.5% of VA patients. Of the total population of people in the VA program, the Department of Defense estimated that 13% of their total population utilized chiropractic. They also note that this percentage is higher than the general population which utilizes chiropractic at a rate of 11% of the general population.

The study predicts that by the year 2027, the usage rate of chiropractic services will double. They predict that that increase will require additional resources within the VA system to handle the increased demand for services.

For services rendered for VA eligible recipients outside a VA hospital or facility, it is estimated that 411,061 veterans will be using chiropractic by the year 2027. This increase will result in an increase in expenditures to $553.4 million by in the next two years.

In their conclusion, the researchers note that the increase in chiropractic services being rendered to veterans is in line with the overall expected demand for chiropractic services in general. They state, "This trend aligns with the broader healthcare trends towards evidence-based non-pharmacological pain management strategies and highlights the VA’s role in addressing veterans’ musculoskeletal healthcare needs."