Defense Health Care: DOD Chiropractor Wage Rates

What GAO Found

Why GAO Did This Study

In 2000, Congress mandated that the Department of Defense (DOD) develop a plan to provide chiropractic care as a permanent part of the Defense Health Program.

Prior to the establishment of DOD's chiropractic program, Congress directed DOD to conduct demonstration projects to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of expanding DOD's health system to include chiropractic care. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 directed the Secretary of Defense to establish a chiropractic demonstration project at a minimum of 10 military treatment facilities for 3 years. Following the demonstration project, DOD reported that providing chiropractic care was feasible, but not fiscally practical.

In 2012, Congress directed GAO to conduct a study on the wage rates of DOD chiropractors compared with the wages of health care professionals with similar training; skill sets; licensure requirements; certification requirements; and health care responsibilities.

For more information, contact, Brenda S. Farrell at (202) 512-3604 or farrellb@gao.gov.