MCA President’s Message – June 2025

Adam Millsop, DC, CCSP – President, Minnesota Chiropractic Association

Dear colleagues, friends, and fellow advocates of chiropractic care,

I write to you today not just as the President of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association, but as a fellow practitioner who deeply understands the challenges we face—and the incredible potential we hold.

Right now, our profession is facing a moment that demands unity, resilience, and a decisive shift from apathy to action.

Governor Walz’s recent decision to eliminate chiropractic benefits for adults on Medical Assistance is more than a policy change—it’s a wake-up call. It will leave countless patients without access to the care they need and place added financial strain on clinics across Minnesota. But more importantly, it reminds us that when we do not advocate, others decide for us.

Even the Governor’s own budget admits:

“Reducing coverage for chiropractic care could disproportionately affect individuals managing chronic pain or mobility issues, particularly older adults and people with disabilities. Similar benefit reductions in other states led to increased reliance on emergency care, escalating costs and worsening health outcomes for vulnerable groups.”

We have a choice. We can either allow this to divide and discourage us—or we can use it as a catalyst to unite, organize, and evolve.

This is our moment to come together.

We will be proactive. MCA is already laying the groundwork to track the real impact of this decision—especially the inevitable rise in emergency room visits and opioid prescriptions. History in other states has shown this is not a guess; it’s a guarantee. And when the costs soar and the data speaks for itself, we will be ready—with facts, with stories, and with a vision.

Let’s look at Missouri, where years of advocacy and analysis led to the inclusion of chiropractic care under Medicaid. A dynamic scoring model projected $14.1 to $49.2 million in annual savings when chiropractic was covered. The reasons?

– Up to 40% cost savings when patients see a chiropractor first
– 60% reduction in spinal surgeries, which often exceed $80,000
– Over $25 million saved through reduced opioid use and abuse

Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echu.2019.08.004

But we must think even bigger. We can use this moment not only to fight for restoration of benefits—but to reshape the entire model of chiropractic coverage in public programs.

We need to advocate for comprehensive coverage. We want spinal and extremity care, active rehab, soft-tissue treatment, and other modalities that we utilize to help our patients recognized and reimbursed. If the system must be rebuilt, let’s help redesign it to serve patients better.

And in doing so, we must also revisit why we, as a profession, are PAYING PROVIDER TAXES TO FUND A PROGRAM THAT HAS NOW EXCLUDED US. That’s not sustainable. That’s not just.

But here’s the truth: none of this happens without you.

If you’re a member—get involved. Join a committee. Attend a meeting. Show up at the Capitol. This past year, fewer than 70 chiropractors showed up for Day at the Capitol. We have over 3,000 licensed providers in Minnesota. It’s easy for lawmakers to disregard us when we can’t be bothered to show up one day per year. That must change—starting now.

If you’re not a member—now is the time. Joining the MCA costs no more than a single patient visit per month ($40), and the majority of your membership dues go directly toward lobbying efforts that protect and advance your ability to practice. MCA leadership—including myself—are volunteers. We pay our dues just like everyone else, and we’re here to serve the profession we love.

Join us here: https://mnchiro.com/join/

This is not just about defending our profession—it’s about elevating it.

Let’s lead with integrity, data, and collaboration. Let’s make it impossible for decision-makers to ignore the value of chiropractic care. Let’s make 2025 the year we stopped waiting for change—and started driving it.

Here’s how you can act right now:

Call Governor Walz’s office: 651-201-3400
Encourage your patients to call, too. Their voices matter.
Find your legislators and contact them today: https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/
Share this message with your colleagues to ensure every chiropractor in Minnesota hears this call to action.

Every call. Every story. Every clinic. Every patient. It all matters.

Thank you for your commitment to this profession—and for the work we will do together.

With respect and determination,

Adam Millsop, DC, CCSP
President, Minnesota Chiropractic Association