Missouri Medicaid to End Chiropractic Care Coverage Starting July 1
Missouri lawmakers approved budget cuts eliminating Medicaid coverage for chiropractic care starting July 1, reversing a 2018 law that was expected to save millions.
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI — Missouri’s Medicaid program will eliminate coverage for chiropractic services starting July 1 after state lawmakers approved budget cuts that remove $658,660 in funding for the services.
The decision reverses a 2018 state law that authorized MO HealthNet to cover chiropractic care, which was originally implemented with expectations it would save the state money by providing alternatives to costly surgeries and emergency room visits.
Budget Cuts Target Alternative Care Services
Republican state Rep. Darin Chappell of Rogersville introduced the amendment removing the funding from MO HealthNet’s budget for fiscal year 2027. Chappell chairs the House subcommittee overseeing the budget for the state’s social services department.
The budget cuts will also eliminate funding for physical therapy and acupuncture services for chronic pain treatment through the Medicaid program.
Original Law Expected to Generate Savings
Dr. Quinn James, a chiropractor in St. Peters and former legislative chairman for the Missouri Chiropractic Physicians Association, had testified in the Missouri Capitol for nine years before lawmakers passed the 2018 legislation allowing chiropractors to provide services through Medicaid.
The Missouri Department of Social Services, which administers MO HealthNet, estimated in 2018 that the change could save $8.9 million to $12 million in state general revenue during the first two full years of implementation.
James said lawmakers were convinced by predictions that the coverage could help reduce state Medicaid spending. “The idea was that by allowing Missourians to use their Medicaid coverage to go to chiropractors, the state could avoid paying for costly back surgeries or emergency room visits,” James told The Missouri Independent.
Impact on Medicaid Recipients
The elimination of chiropractic coverage affects Missourians who rely on MO HealthNet for their healthcare needs and have been using the services since the 2018 implementation. The original legislation was designed to provide chronic pain patients with treatment options that could prevent more expensive medical interventions.
The budget changes take effect at the start of fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1, leaving current Medicaid recipients who use chiropractic services with less than three weeks to seek alternative arrangements or pay out of pocket for continued care.
