Also in 2001 the first 9000 chiropractic licenses have been issued, and the TCA is actively included and consulted in legislative negotiations regarding the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission overhaul compromise bill HB2600.
In response to threats to the profession in June 2002, the TCA files lawsuit against the University Interscholastic League for discrimination against chiropractors by prohibiting them from performing and signing school physicals. TCA also files a lawsuit against the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission for discriminatory regulations against the chiropractic profession regarding their use of Designated Doctors. The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners is sued in a class action lawsuit regarding Chiropractic facility registrations.
A Judge issues a temporary injunction against the UIL in favor of the TCA and trial date is set for fall of 2002. The TCA successfully endorsed candidates in 94% of Senate elections, is neutral in 3% of the races, 87% of House winners endorsed, neutral in 9%. Overall Legislative elections are 89% of the winners, neutral in 8%, and wrong in only 3% of the election results.
In 2003 TCA’s MGCT study demonstrates cost effectiveness of chiropractic care within the Texas Workers’ Compensation System, the Texas House of Representatives passes a resolution recognizing TCA and Keeler Plaque Award recipients, the Legislature passes, and the Governor signs into law, the inclusion of Chiropractic Doctors as those who may be protected from liability when performing voluntary school physical examinations. The UIL reverses its discriminatory policy against Chiropractic Doctors and informs school administrators that chiropractors ARE allowed to sign school physical examination forms.
In 2004 the TCA purchases office space approximately one block from the Capitol Building, the TCA Board of Directors establishes TCA-PAC to replace the previous “CPAC” and recommends support of this chiropractic political action committee. The TCA adopts the Quality Assurance Standards as the current official position of the Texas Chiropractic Association. The TCA discontinued the printed version of the TCA journal and also the Level Pay Plan.
In 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastates much of New Orleans. the first 10,000 chiropractic licenses have been issued since 1949. The TCA adopts a strategic planning process, and TCA Board of Directors adopts a new Mission Statement.
In 2006 Saddam Hussein is executed and the American Medical Association (AMA) announced an industry consortium known as the “Scope of Practice Partnership” (SOPP), which included as one of its founding members the Texas Medical Association. The Texas Medical Association (TMA) then sued the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE) asserting a violation of the Texas Constitution in an infringement of the “rights" of the Texas Board of Medical Examiners (TBME). TMA challenged the right of chiropractic doctors to “diagnose” stating that ONLY medical doctors have that right.
By 2008 11,000 chiropractic licenses have been issued, and on November 24, 2009, the trial court handed down its ruling that the Board’s rules regarding Needle EMG and MUA are invalid but that the Board’s rules regarding “diagnosis” are valid with respect to those matters within a doctor of chiropractic’s scope of practice.
The largest oil spill in US history occurs in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, a 9.0 earthquake in Japan triggers a tsunami and the meltdown of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, and Deaths of Osama bin Laden, Muammar Gaddafi, and Kim Jong-Il occur. In 2012 a Benghazi attack leads to the death of US ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. The first 12,000 chiropractic licenses have been issued.
In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI, resigned as Pope Francis becomes the new Pope. Mike VanDeWalle, DC, runs for Texas State Representative in House District 50.
On their website the TBCE reports "on February 10, 2014, the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE) was sued by the Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine."
The TAAOM sued the TBCE in district court reiterating many of the arguments of the Texas Medical Association in their various previous lawsuits, because “Plaintiff Acupuncture Association is the largest professional organization of licensed acupuncturists and practitioners of Oriental Medicine in Texas.” The acupuncture board, a sub-board of the Texas Medical Board, chiefly represents “oriental medicine” practitioners. Like their medical cousins, the acupuncturists are of the belief that a state license is a government issued monopoly for a specified procedure rather than a permit to allow the licensee to practice within government defined parameters. Their motivation for this lawsuit are stated to be "the privilege of practicing acupuncture is diminished in quality and standards. As a result, acupuncturist's legal rights and privileges are interfered with and impaired. ... Further, acupuncturists are economically injured…”
Parker University announced the establishment of a new College of Business and Technology. The college includes undergraduate and graduate health care business administration and technology degree programs
Following nearly 3 years without an executive director at the helm, the Texas Chiropractic Association hired Jeffrey S. Jenkins as its new Executive Director. “It will take all of us – TCA’s leadership and members, the chiropractic colleges and other related organizations – pulling together to defend chiropractic in Texas,” Jenkins said. “We will achieve far more working together as a team than a singular entity.”
During 2015 the Texas Medical Association listed among their objectives: Increase Medicaid primary care physician payments; devise and enact a system for providing health care to low-income Texans with realistic payment to physicians; enact a rational Medicare physician payment system that works; Increase funding for graduate medical education; Stop any efforts to expand scope of practice beyond that safely permitted by nonphysican practitioners’ education, training, and skills. TMA attempted to keep chiropractic doctors from performing UIL school physicals or serving on concussion oversight teams. Through active legislative efforts such has having doctor of chiropractic, concussion expert, and reigning Ms. America in to testify at hearings, and in recruiting numerous practitioners to testify at committee hearings, many of the proposals adverse to the chiropractic profession were thwarted.
During 2016 TCA discouraged harmful changes to the Designated Doctor program. Secured first meetings with the Sunset Advisory Commission in TCA history. Cemented TCA’s position as a stakeholder to TBCE and the TMB (Summer 2016). Added the word “diagnose” to the definition of the practice of chiropractic in a decisive 11-1 vote of the Sunset Advisory Commission (Dec. 2016). Prevented the consolidation of TBCE into the TDLR and preserved an independent, standalone chiropractic board comprised primarily of doctors (Jan. 2016). Prevented the total elimination of chiropractic acupuncture by securing the necessary votes to force Senator Watson to withdraw his “proposed new issue 11” (Jan. 2016). Persuaded two former “non-allies” of TCA in the 84th Legislature to carry bills for TCA in the 85th Legislature.
In 2017 the TCA Organized a wildly successful and highly coordinated legislative day for over 550 doctors and students. During more than 140 scheduled appointments, participants educated legislators and staff about chiropractic issues. (Feb. 2017). Every TCA legislative priority successfully passed at least one chamber of the legislature (except for the school bus driver examination bill, which TCA’s legislative committee opted to shelve for strategic reasons) (May 2017). TCA Successfully included chiropractic colleges in a bill authorizing a study on establishing a patient-reported outcomes registry for musculoskeletal care provided in the ERS and TRS systems (May 2017). Passed: TBCE Sunset Bill (SB304). Passed, signed by the governor. This bill clarifies that DCs may lawfully diagnose the biomechanical condition of the spine and musculoskeletal system of the human body. It also eliminates facility registration (and associated fees), streamlines the complaint and investigations process, and continues TBCE for 12 years.
Passed: Professional Associations (SB 679). Passed, signed by the governor. This bill allows DCs to form business entities with physicians and podiatrists. It was one of the first bills to pass the Senate but was held up in the House for political reasons unrelated to the bill itself. After finally being referred, the bill was considered in the final House Public Health Committee hearing and passed unanimously. It was then held hostage in the Calendars Committee (again, for reasons unrelated to the bill). TCA’s lobby team rescued the bill in the eleventh hour, securing a prime spot on the House’s final daily General State Calendar. The bill passed in the House on the last day of eligibility.
Passed: Removal from Play (HB 3024). Passed, signed by the governor. This bill allows a DC to remove a student athlete from a UIL competition or practice upon a suspected concussion. This bill passed in the House and was transmitted to the Senate, where it was considered in committee and passed unanimously. It was recommended for easy passage on the Local and Uncontested Calendar, but was unceremoniously removed from that calendar by a Senator hoping to amend the bill and used it as a vehicle to pass a separate piece of legislation. TCA worked with the Senate sponsor to avert a crisis and the bill passed via the Intent Calendar in the final days of the session.
In 2020 the COVID-19 Pandemic cancels most TCA in-person events and disrupts the world in general. The following year, in 2021, TCA defeats the Texas Medical Association’s attempt to remove nerve, and specifically the subluxation complex, from the chiropractic repertoire as TCA prevails before the Texas Supreme Court in Texas Medical Association (TMA) vs. Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE).
Executive Director Jeff Jenkins moves to Dallas for a new position
In 2023 Jenkins returns to the TCA as Executive Director. TCA prevails in District Court in Travis County in the Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (TAAOM) vs. Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE). Judge Jan Soifer ruled in favor of the TBCE as defendant, and the Texas Chiropractic Association (TCA) as an intervenor in the case, affirming TBCE’s rules regarding chiropractic acupuncture.
In 2024 the TAAOM announced that it would NOT appeal the court’s decision in TAAOM v TBCE. Doctors of Chiropractic may continue to practice acupuncture under the limitations established by the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Chiropractors and other health care providers involved in the designated doctor program are FINALLY getting a raise. TCA worked closely with DWC, participating in stakeholder meetings to combat declining participation in the designated doctor program by addressing billing logistics and reimbursement rates. The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has adopted new and amended rules to increase billing and reimbursement for certain workers’ compensation-specific services, including Designated doctor examinations, Required medical examinations; Work status reports; Maximum medical improvement evaluations and impairment rating examinations by treating and referred doctors.
