"The medical practice act had its roots in the Republic of Texas Constitution of 1837; it was repealed in 1847 by the 2nd Legislature of Texas in a general repealing law and the state was without medical practice regulations during the Mexican War and the Civil War and a short while following--a total period of twenty-six years."
1845
D.D. Palmer is born March 7, 1845.
1847
Second Legislature of Texas repeals medical practice act.
1866
Willard Carver is born July 14, 1866.
1873
"A new [Texas medical practice] law was structured in 1873 and in 1875 the basic law took shape. It was amended and the penal provisions added in 1876 and again in 1879, to include 'offer and attempt to practice' under its code."
1888
D.D. Palmer begins magnetic healing practice and moves to Davenport, Iowa
Willard Carver graduates law school in June of this year. "...he at first planned to become a doctor of medicine but gave it up after extensive study convinced him it was too inexact to be scientific."
1895
Williard Carver begins the active study of chiropractic.
Chiropractic officially dates its birth from September 18, 1895.
1896
Homeopathic physician Dr. William A. Seeley, pays D.D. Palmer for 8 to 10 weeks of instruction in chiropractic.- Willard Carver "although having no practical contact with patients, had decided to announce a system of healing...the system of Relatolity...a system involving some form of manipulation, massage and psychology..."
1898
Chiropractic students of D. D. Palmer in 1898 included Texan Andrew P. Davis, MD, DO, DC, who is the first practicing chiropractic doctor of Texas.
1899
Three chiropractic students study chiropractic with D.D. Palmer.
1900
Two chiropractic students study chiropractic with D.D. Palmer.
1901
Five chiropractic students study with D.D. Palmer.
In Texas, "in 1901, the legislature repealed all existing laws on medical practice and divided the field into three parts--medical, eclectic and homeopathic--which law was discarded in 1907 and replaced by the medical practice act in use today, although it has been amended in 1915, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1931, 1939, 1949, 1951. The 1949 amendment was the one which included chiropractors under the act and set them apart with a distinct field having a separate board of examiners and specified a distinctive area of practice. The other amendments concerned optometrists, dentists and matters of concern in the various health fields."
1902
D.D. Palmer moves to Portland, OR leaving the 21 room sanatorium and "many debts" behind with B.J. Palmer. Willard Carver's uncle refurbishes the building and gets it back in business under B. J. Palmer. Willard Carver becomes sick with typhoid fever and comes to Davenport to be treated by D.D. Palmer, B. J. treats him for several weeks.
Four chiropractic students study with D.D. Palmer, one is son B.J. Palmer
1903-1905- First chiropractors are thought to arrive in Texas.
1904- D.D. Palmer returns and joins his son in practice and instructing in chiropractic.
Texas Chiropractic History
c. 1905-1915
Chiropractic comes to Texas after 1900.
Chiropractic gains widespread popularity.
1906
Minnesota becomes the first state to introduce and pass a chiropractic law, though the governor vetos the bill.
"In early 1906 both D.D. and B. J. Palmer were indicted for practicing medicine without a license...D.D. Palmer had been tried in April...found guilty, fined $100.00 and costs and put in jail until the fine was paid. He elected to stay there as a form of protest." After two weeks he pays the fine and is rejected by B.J. Palmer D. D. Palmer moves to Medford, Oklahoma.
Graduates of study with D.D. Palmer have established seven chiropractic schools.
"A Dr. Guy...established a college in Dallas which operated for a short time but it joined the parade of schools which disappeared, leaving almost no trace."
Dr. L. L. Denny and Dr. Willard Carver open the "Carver-Denny Chiropractic College" in Oklahoma City.
Willard Carver Graduates from Parker Chiropractic school in Ottumwa, Iowa. Willard Carver "wrote the chiropractic licensing laws which were adopted verbatim by Arkansas and almost verbatim in Oklahoma. He submitted model laws in North Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas.... Oklahoma...got its law by a popular vote of the people, an election engineered by Carver and associates after they had been outmaneuvered in the Senate."
Twenty-one chiropractic students study with D.D. Palmer.
1908
"The Texas Chiropractic College was established in September 1908, by Dr. J. N. Stone, D.C., who is thought to have been a Carver College graduate."
Willard Carver buys Dr. Denny's interest in the Carver-Denny Chiropractic College. It becomes the Carver Chiropractic College, "the first substantial competitor to B. J. Palmer and the Palmer Chiropractic School." These two schools would be the major source of most of the doctors drifting southward into Texas.
1910
D.D. Palmer publishes his book, The Chiropractor's Adjuster.
1913
August 1913, D.D. Palmer walks in front of homecoming parade and is reportedly struck by a car.
D. D. Palmer dies October 21, 1913.
"On April 16, 1913, [Texas Chiropractic College] was chartered by the State of Texas..."
The first workers' compensation laws were enacted in Texas in 1913 and held fast to the principle that employers should be allowed to choose whether to offer workers' compensation benefits to their employees.
1915
Arkansas passes "the first chiropractic law to go into effect and full operation anywhere in the world.
The Kansas statute was the first one passed, and North Dakota was second, but he Arkansas law went into effect and its board of examiners became fully functional before those of any other state."
North Dakota has the privilege of issuing the first chiropractic license in the world...in April 1915.
Kansas began issuing licenses in May 1915; Arkansas began in June, 1915."
"Prior to 1915 a six month course was not uncommon in many chiropractic colleges; then most of the schools began to require 1 year or 2 years for the D.C. degree with another six months required for the PhC. Degree. TCC [Texas Chiropractic College], however, was known to have begun the one yearrequirement since inception in 1908."
c. 1915- current era
Contention in the courts and the halls of government pits medical doctors against chiropractic doctors for the control of the healthcare "turf" in Texas.
Political Chiropractic History in Texas
1916
“The Texas State Chiropractic Association (TSCA) was formed in 1916 with eight charter members--who were quickly joined by nineteen more. The twenty-seven doctors held the first annual TSCA convention at the St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio in the fall of 1916 and laid plans for the legislative program of 1917.”
This was the birth of the TCA--just 20 years after the birth of chiropractic itself...
1917
First chiropractic licensing bill introduced in the Texas Legislature. It passed the house, but failed in the Senate.
Pat M. Neff defends Dr. Charles C. Lemly for practicing medicine without a license. Pat Neff "found himself under fire in May, 1917, because he was such a supporter of the Texas State Chiropractic Association and constantly defended Lemly, who was a 'sore spot under the medical saddle' at the time. Because of these activities the medical authorities tried but didn't succeed in removing Neff from his position at Baylor University, where he was later appointed president."
An influenza epidemic sweeps the world.
Texas revised its workers' compensation laws in 1917, but retained voluntary employer participation in the system. The 1917 Texas law created the Texas Industrial Accident Board to administer workers' compensation laws in the state and provided the basic framework for the state's workers' compensation system until the late 1980s.
1918
"...there were at least 54 indictments [for practicing medicine without a license] across the state, the result of an apparent drive to prosecute chiropractors wholesale, but poor results made prosecutors willing to grant continuances and finally dismissals."
Ownership of Texas Chiropractic College assumed from Dr. J. N. Stone M.D., D.C. by Dr. J. M. McLease and Associates in September.
1919
Texas Chiropractic College moves from West Commerce location in San Antonio to East Commerce Street in Downtown San Antonio.
1920
The Dallas County Chiropractic Society organizes.
"In the 1920-30 era [Dr. H. C. Allison] was charged with practicing medicine without a license several times. The charges so enraged Allison that he sued the Texas Medical Association for $50,000 for malicious prosecution but the suit was dismissed. He carried the constitutionality of the Medical Practice Act of Texas to the U.S. Supreme Court for a test, after being convicted under its provisions in 1933. He had been found guilty of practicing medicine without a license and the judge fined him $50.00 and sentenced him to 30 minutes in jail...." The U. S. Supreme Court declined to act on Allison's suit.
"[Texas Chiropractic College's] charter was purchased by Dr. B. F. Gurden, his wife, Dr. Flora Gurdenand Dr. James R. Drain" on March 13 of this year. "The old Yoakum home on the corner of Dwyer and Neuva Streets was purchased as the site for the college."
1921
"...the Texas State Chiropractic Association decided to advertise ethically for the profession in a more extensive manner than ever before....A statewide effort was begun....Chiropractors from all over the state were visited...and signed up to give 1/26th of their monthly gross to an advertising fund. Most Texas chiropractors supported the program.....Enough money came in to place regular ads in 38 newspapers across Texas and...editorial support for Texas' chiropractors came much easier afterwards."
1923
Dr. Charles Lemley introduces a chiropractic bill and receives a lot of attention in the media, but the public health committee stifled the bill and It died in committee.
"The Council on Education and Public Instruction passed a resolution calling for a publicity campaign regarding the practice of medicine, the status of cults and quacks, the effect of quackery on the public health, and other worthy goals. A voluntary contribution of $10.00 from each Texas Medical Association member was requested to pay for the campaign. By February 1924, about one-fourth of the membership had responded with their donations."
"The Injunction Law, originating from the Dallas County medical doctors and designed exclusively for the elimination of the chiropractic problem was passed in 1923. Its major provision was that if one was found guilty of practicing medicine without a license then to continue practice became a jailable offense--that is, one was enjoined permanently from continuing to practice."
1926
"...the vacant lots on Myrtle St. across from the 50 acre San Pedro Park were bought..." and "the original buildings [of Texas Chiropractic College] on Myrtle St. were soon built on that location and during the Thanksgiving vacation, 1926, Texas Chiropractic College moved from the corner of Dwyer and Nueva Streets. It was not to move again until the 1960's when the college was moved to Pasadena, Texas..."
1927
"On March 10, 1927, ....the standards [for education at Texas Chiropractic College] were already 3 years of 8 months each required for graduation."
Texas Medical Association declares it is concerned with “strengthening the State Health Department and with controlling the increasingly powerful chiropractors.”
1928
"the executive committee of the Texas Medical Association reported with alarm to the membership that a bill had been introduced into the legislature appropriating $2000 to be used for employing a chiropractor in the San Antonio Hospital for the Insane."
1929
"The medical attitude shifted from 'educating the public' to vigorously enforcing the medical practice act."
1930
"Times were so bad in San Antonio that $5.00 would get you all the adjustments you wanted for a whole month."
1933
TSCA had three senators committed to a favorable vote. The Second chiropractic bill introduced into Texas Legislature. It had one senatorial supporter.
"...then Attorney General Dan Moody met with the Texas Medical Association in a convention at Ft. Worth and promised them in an address that he would, 'run all the chiropractors in Texas into the Gulf of Mexico.' The Lamar County Medical Association ran a series of ads in the daily newspaper, warning the people about such 'quacks' being a menace to the 'public health.'"
1934
The Keeler Award, the TSCA’s most prestigious award to recognize chiropractors is established.
The association publishes an official publication: The Chiropractic Flash the forerunner of the Texas Chiropractorwhich later became The Texas Journal of Chiropractic.
1938
TSCA hires a defense lawyer, Judge E. B. Simmons, to defend chiropractors in "practicing medicine without a license" cases “and he never lost a case in Texas. Chiropractors charged with practicing medicine without a license won acquittals all over the state--and won and won and won.” “The employment of these two men effectively revolutionized the status of chiropractic in Texas. Judge Simmons made it impractical to charge chiropractors with practicing medicine without a license and taking them to court, and Bauknight’s public relations soon began to create positive conditions in the legislative halls,” the Official History of Chiropractic in Texas reports.
1941
The Keeler award is changed to be presented by an independent committee of all past award recipients.
1943
"By the 1940's the requirements [for education at Texas Chiropractic College] were 4 years of 9 months each."
The first Chiropractic Act for Texas passed the Texas Legislature creating the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE) but the Texas Medical Association persuaded the Senate to attach crippling amendments to it which set impossible standards for the colleges and other clauses designed to cripple the chiropractors in years to come. The chiropractic profession worked together to overturn its newly established law as unconstitutional in 1944.
1944
The first TBCE was disbanded .
1947
The TSCA hires constitutional lawyer to draft the next Chiropractic Act proposal so as to "be satisfactory to both the chiropractic and legal professions." The second Chiropractic Act is introduced, but fails to pass the Texas Legislature.
1948
Private owners "...retained the school's ownership [Texas Chiropractic College] until it was sold to the alumni association for $225,000 in 1948."
1949
TSCA and Texas Chiropractic Research Society (TCRS), working together, again introduce the Second Chiropractic Act It is passed by the Texas Legislature and establishes chiropractic as a state regulated profession separate from the control of the Texas Medical Board.
With the establishment of the second Chiropractic Act for Texas, Bauknight becomes legal counsel and secretary to the TBCE, simultaneously with TSCA executive secretary duties from 1949 until his death January 19, 1966.
"The basic science law passed in 1949 added two years of college outside of chiropractic college and specified the subjects required under its provisions as an anatomy, physiology, bacteriology, public health and hygiene, chemistry and other basic sciences."
As introduced it was intended to nullify the effects of the Chiropractic licensing act, but a 33 hour filibuster arranged by chiropractic legislative friends assisted to "break the threat" of onerous limitations.
1950
James W. Parker D.C. instituted his first practice management seminar.
1951
Chiropractic is included in the Workmen's Compensation Act of 1951.
The first licensed Black Chiropractor of Texas, Rev. Romanuel Washington, Jr., DC, was licensed in Texas May 12, 1951, just a couple of years after Texas Chiropractic Act was enacted.
1956
TCA implements the Young Chiropractor of the Year award to recognize doctors under 40 years of age
1963
Dr. William D. Harper, Jr. holder of a master's degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Texas Chiropractic College graduate, was elected to the dean's position at TCC in September 1963.
The AMA formed its infamous "Committee on Quackery," whose mission was to "contain and eliminate" the chiropractic profession.
1964
“Struggles between two competing national chiropractic organizations reached an apex...The International Chiropractic Association (ICA), under the firm influence of Dr. B.J. Palmer had long been a competitor with the National Chiropractic Association (NCA). In their struggles the two national groups were being divisive and thereby hindering national legislative efforts..."
“Two Texans...both members of the [ICA’s] Board of Control, joined with three other members of that board...resigned their...positions to establish a new national organization with new objectives and new goals, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). ... The idea of uniting divergent factions was not a new thing to [one of these Texans]. He had been a member of the old Texas Chiropractic Research Society, the competitor to the Texas State Chiropractic Association, which was the majority group. After temporarily working together to secure the passage of the 1949 licensing law, the two groups eventually amalgamated. ... After a short period of unity another small group of doctors formed a separate state association but it has never achieved the prominence of the old Texas Chiropractic Research Society.”
1966
Following the death of Mr. Beauknight, Mr. Robert Barling and Mr. Ed McCluskey were hired as full time executive directors [of the TSCA], each for a short time."
1970
"On January 20, 1970...the executive officers of the Texas State Chiropractic Association, hired Dr. [Charles E.] Walker [of Austin] as the executive director...until a new permanent director could be found. The job quickly escalated into a 24-hour-per-day proposition and the officers eventually quit looking for another man. Dr. Walker had won the job...and continued in that post until November 1977."
1973
The TCA was instrumental in developing an Insurance equality law to require services for one type of provider to be covered for all provider types qualified to render such services.
1974
The Attorney General of Texas declares the Chiropractic Act valid and constitutional.
1975
"Mr. Ray Lemmon was hired in 1975 as the TSCA's first full time lobbyist and worked within the organization on political matters until November, 1977."
1976
Chester Wilk and four other chiropractors sued the AMA, several nationwide healthcare associations, and several physicians for violations of sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
1979
Senator J.P. Word was hired to assist the TCA in their lobbying effort to gain passage of the insurance equality law.
1981
The plaintiffs in Wilk v. AMA, et. al. lost at the first trial in 1981
1983
The plaintiffs in Wilk v. AMA, et. al. obtained a new trial on appeal.
1987
On September 25, 1987, Judge Getzendanner issued her opinion that the AMA had violated portions of the Sherman Act, and that it had engaged in an unlawful conspiracy in restraint of trade "to contain and eliminate the chiropractic profession."
In 1987 the Texas Legislature appointed a Joint Select Committee on Workers' Compensation Insurance to that concluded that work-related fatalities and injuries in Texas seemed to be higher than the rest of the nation.
1989
The Texas Legislature adopted the Texas Worker's Compensation Act (Senate Bill 1) on Dec. 13, 1989. The Act was immediately challenged in court but it was upheld eventually by the Texas Supreme Court."
1990
Both sides of the Wilk case cross-appealed, and the district court's decision was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals on February 7, 1990. The AMA petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court three times, but each time the Court denied to hear the case.
1991
Senator J. P. Word hired as full time executive director following the death of Executive Director, H.Ford Johnson.
1998
J. P. Word retires as executive director. Des Taylor hired as Executive Director and legal counsel of TCA.
1999
Charlie Hester hired as Executive Director of TCA. The TCA offices are moved to Brazos St. in downtown Austin.
2000
Former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Gib Lewis becomes Chief Lobbyist.
2001
TCA was actively included and consulted as a stakeholder in the legislative negotiations regarding Texas Workers' Compensation Commission overhaul compromise bill HB2600.
Patte Kent, former Executive Director of the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, became the Executive Director of TCA.
2002
TCA files lawsuit against the University Interscholastic League for discrimination against chiropractors by prohibiting them from performing and signing school physicals.
TCA files lawsuit against the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission for discriminatory regulations against the chiropractic profession regarding their use of Designated Doctors.
Judge issues temporary injunction against the UIL in favor of the TCA and trial date is set for fall of 2002.
The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners is sued in a class action lawsuit regarding Chiropractic facility registrations.
TCA successfully endorses 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 elections.
2003
UIL reverses its discriminatory policy against Chiropractic Doctors and informs school administrators that chiropractors ARE allowed to sign school physical examination forms.
Lesgislature 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.
Texas House of Representatives passes a resolution recognizing TCA and Keeler Plaque Award recipients.
TCA's MGCT study demonstrates cost effectiveness of chiropractic care within the Texas Workers' Compensation System.
2004
The TCA discontinues the printed version of the TCA journal and also the Level Pay Plan.
TCA Board of Directors establishes TCA-PAC to replace the previous "CPAC" and recommends support of this chiropractic political action committee.
TCA purchases office space approximately one block from the Capitol Building. TCA now owns office space. In the 1980's TCA received donated land near I-35 and 15th. Problems prevented its effective use for a TCA building, and in the 1990's TCA purchases a property near I-35 and Riverside. Problems also prevented efficient use for a TCA building.
2006
The TCA discontinues the annual bird hunt and determines that Ford Johnson (former TCA Executive Director) be remembered at convention by presentation of the Ford Johnson Memorial Member Award.
TCA Board of Directors adopts a new Mission Statement, and adopts a strategic planning process.
The Board of directors approves constitutional changes as presented and moves to place them on the agenda for consideration at Convention.
The TCA Policy Manual is updated, streamlined and adopted by the board.
The Scholarship Fund account is closed and the proceeds are placed in the TCA Building Fund.
In January, The 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.
In May the TBCE adopted rule 75.17 regarding the scope of practice for licensed doctors of chiropracticin Texas. In August the Board was then sued by the Texas Medical Association contending that the board's rule 75.17 allowed DC's to practice medicine.
2009
Senator J. P. Word, passes away at home.
2010
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1017, the “Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act" requiring the VA to have doctors of chiropractic on staff at no fewer than 75 major VA medical centers before the end of 2011 and for all major VA medical centers to have a doctor of chiropractic on staff before the end of 2013.
2011
Senate Bill 1001 allows chiropractors to form professional associations with medical doctors, and it ensures that chiropractors will be treated fairly by insurance companies that decide to cover services that can legally be provided by chiropractors and other types of practitioners.
2016
TCA discouraged harmful changes to the Designated Doctor program.
• Fought against the exclusion of DCs from serving on the Combative Sports Advisory Board by submitting written comments to the TDLR and meeting personally with Department staff. Put TDLR on notice that exclusion of DCs will not be tolerated (Jan. 2016).
• 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. Accomplished this with $0 in PAC donations. Representative Price authored return to play legislation and Senator Schwertner agreed to author professional associations legislation (Jan. 2016).
2017
• 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. In a survey, 45% of participants indicated they met personally with legislators (not simply staff) and an overwhelming majority were “very satisfied.” The event achieved a net promotor score of 70, which is considered “excellent.” (Feb. 2017).
• Secured authors for every proposed TCA legislative initiative. High priority items had authors in both chambers, included the post-payment audit extrapolation bill, which was joint authored by two MDs (March 2017).
• Reviewed and analyzed more than 1000 bills for their potential impact on chiropractic. Discussed hundreds of bills with TCA’s Bill Review Committee and developed a comprehensive tracking system for relevant legislation (March 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).
• Successfully worked with Senator Zaffirini, Senator Hughes, Representative Sheffield (MD) and the Texas Orthopedic Association to amend SB55 (authorizing a study on establishing a patient-reported outcomes registry for musculoskeletal care provided in the ERS and TRS systems) to include chiropractic colleges. This study should prove the efficacy of chiropractic care. (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.
• Almost: Prohibition of Extrapolation in Post-Payment Audits (HB 1649). Passed the House of Representatives but did not move in the senate. This bill would have prohibited insurance carriers from using extrapolation in post-payment audits. It passed the House of Representatives, but the Governor’s office registered concerns and the Senate Business and Commerce Committee refused to hear it. Notably, the bills was co-authored by two physicians, Senators Donna Campbell and Dawn Buckingham.
• Almost: Combative Sports Advisory Board (HB 3206). Passed in House of Representatives but did not move in the senate. This bill would have added a DC to the Combative Sports Advisory Board at TDLR. It passed in the House after negotiations with TDLR and TMA. The bill was unopposed but failed in the Senate when time ran out. TCA believes that TDLR will be persuaded to make this change via rule as a direct result of our success in moving this bill.
• Almost: Notification of Right to Choose DC in Workers’ Comp (HB 3702). Passed in House of Representatives but did not move in the senate. This bill would have required the Office of Injured Employee Counsel to better notify injured employees of their right to choose a DC and their treating doctor. It passed in the House of Representatives but died in the Senate when time ran out. In an attempt to resurrect the bill, TCA’s lobby team worked with Senator Zaffirini to allow one of her bills to be amended to include this language. Unfortunately, time did not permit this amendment to occur.
• No: School Bus Driver Examinations (HB 3421). TCA did not pursue. This bill would have amended the law to clarify that DCs may perform school bus driver medical examinations. TCA opted to shelve this initiative for strategic reasons.
2018
2019
2020
• COVID-19 Pandemic cancels most TCA in-person events and disrupts the world
2021
• Texas Chiropractic Association defeats the Texas Medical Association’s attempt to remove nerve, and specifically subluxation complex, from the chiropractic repertoire as TCA prevails before the Texas Supreme Court inTexas Medical Association (TMA) vs. Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE).
• COVID-19 Pandemic plays havoc with the Texas Legislative session
• Executive Director Jeff Jenkins moves to Dallas for a new position
2022
2023
- TCA has had more than 10 pro-chiropractic bills signed into law since 2017, most notably cementing your right to diagnosis.
- 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.
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, thanks in part to the Texas Chiropractic Association. 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.