05/13/2026

Doctor of Chiropractic vs. Chiropractic Physician & Explanation of Continuing Education (CE) Changes Based on Renewal Cycle

Dr. Scott LeBaron - AAC Board President

It was recently brought to my attention that the Executive Director of the Arizona Board of Chiropractic Examiners (AZBCE) recently changed the designation on our license certificates from “Chiropractic Physician,” which had been used for many years, to “Doctor of Chiropractic.”

05/13/2026

When Delay Becomes Denial: The Prior Authorization Crisis in Chiropractic Care

By Dr. Tim Munderloh DC FIACN | Member, AAC Reimbursement Fairness Committee

Not long ago, a patient came into my office with a chronic cervical complaint — the kind of case we see every day. The clinical path forward was clear. But before I could begin care, I had to navigate a prior authorization process that consumed hours of staff time, required repetitive documentation, and still produced a weeks-long delay. The patient’s condition worsened while we waited. This was not an exception. This is the system working as designed.

05/12/2026

U.S. Department of Education Finalizes Rule Regarding Professional Degree Programs

Beginning July 1st, Chiropractic Students Will Be Limited to Borrowing $50k/Year, $200,000 Total. On April 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) released a final rule establishing new borrowing limits for students seeking federal aid. Beginning July 1, 2026, students enrolled in a professional degree program such as chiropractic will be limited to borrowing up to $50,000/year, with an aggregate cap of $200,000.

05/06/2026

TPA Practices Undermine Providers and Patient Safety

By Jeff Trinka, DC AAC Reimbursement Fairness Committee Member

A growing concern in musculoskeletal healthcare is the role of third-party administrators (TPAs) in shaping care through policies that may not align with clinical science. Nowhere is this more evident than in the management of chronic pain. Despite well-established guidelines recognizing chronic pain as a condition requiring ongoing, individualized care, some TPA systems continue to apply acute care medical necessity criteria—expecting rapid resolution, limiting treatment duration, and restricting visit frequency. These frameworks are fundamentally mismatched to the clinical realities of chronic neuromusculoskeletal conditions.