Senator Brownback describes throwing away his prescription after a month-long bout with neck pain cleared immediately with a single adjustment by Congress’ chiropractor. Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III savors the punch line.

Brownback listened intently to an overview of the need for health promotion initiatives and a description of the proposed degree program provided by Dr. Will Evans, Dean of Graduate Studies. The senator then engaged in a question-and-answer session in which he shared his views on the current U.S. health care system and possible reforms, prevention and health promotion, chiropractic, and environmental influences on health.

Dr. Daniel Redwood moderates a question-and-answer session with Senator Brownback.

Brownback connected early with the overflow crowd, recounting the story of his month-long bout with neck pain, which included a significant loss of mobility. This was cleared in a single visit with Dr. William Morgan, who provides chiropractic services for members of Congress and the Supreme Court as part of his work with the U.S. Navy.

Senator Brownback explained that after having been prescribed medication by the attending physician and receiving exercise recommendations from the physical therapist, he was approached by Dr. Morgan, who was working in the same treatment area. The chiropractor asked if he could take a look to determine if he could be of help and the senator readily agreed. After examining the senator’s neck, Morgan delivered a cervical adjustment that brought immediate and sustained relief. As the senator described it, “I went, ‘Wow! I can move again.’ I felt great. I didn’t do the exercises, didn’t get the medicine, and I felt wonderful. It brought a personal experience to me that you need to have all modes of care available.”

Private Sector Emphasis

An overflow crowd listens as Senator Brownback explains his health care positions.

In a discussion moderated by College faculty member and Health Insights Today editor-in-chief, Dr. Daniel Redwood, Senator Brownback shared his views on a variety of health care issues. Regarding the current health reform debate, he expressed strong support for market-based solutions while opposing a larger role for government, mentioning health savings accounts as a prime example of the policies he favors. He agreed that prevention and health promotion should play an increased role in health care delivery. However, when asked by student Devin Mobley whether prevention and health promotion services should be reimbursable when delivered by all practitioners trained and licensed to provide them (including chiropractors), he replied that this should be based on cost-effectiveness rather than specific government mandates.

Dr. Cleveland and Senator Brownback discuss ways the College serves the surrounding community.

The senator consistently favors a hands-off approach to regulating the private sector, asserting that intervention creates market distortions. He endorses legislation that would for the first time allow insurance companies to market their policies across state lines, a change that would overturn the state insurance equality laws currently in effect in nearly all states. Many of these laws mandate that individual insurance policies include chiropractic coverage.

Strong Support for Expanding Chiropractic Services for Veterans, But Cautious on Broad Inclusion in Health Reform

Student intern Scott Keller greets Senator Brownback as Dr. Nathan Uhl and Dr. Carl Cleveland III enjoy the moment.

Senator Brownback announced that he has signed on as the lead Republican sponsor of a bipartisan bill that would mandate availability of chiropractic services at all Veterans Administration facilities in the nation, a key legislative goal of chiropractors. But, asked whether he favored including chiropractic as an “essential” service in a core benefit plan under a possible health reform, he replied, “I think it needs to be in the mix and in the portfolio as an option. But putting it into a requirement pool, I would need to look at that again.”

Along the same lines, when asked by student Therese Finan how to remedy lower and arguably discriminatory levels of coverage and reimbursement for chiropractors under many insurance policies, the senator answered, “This really sounds like something that the system needs to investigate itself, as to what’s the most effective way and what the reimbursement rates are for the various areas. When you have a government-run system, it ends up setting very specific rules and very specific categories.”

As the assembly neared completion, Senator Brownback was visibly moved and the entire audience was electrified by incoming chiropractic student T.S.’s story of why he decided to become a chiropractor. With courage, clarity and the power that comes from speaking one’s heart, Steinbrecher shared his story:

“I’m getting ready to start the chiropractic program next trimester. I’m a disabled veteran and I use the chiropractic services every month at the VA. I get treated for PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder]. In a helicopter crash, I broke my neck and I have bulged discs in my neck and my lower back. The only thing that worked for me was chiropractic and some other alternative care, acupuncture. I went through the system with the military and the drugs and physical therapy.

This is the only thing that worked for me and that’s why I’m here today. It’s really important to get this message out – that chiropractic isn’t just for a crick in the neck. I’m standing here today and I can feel my arms, because of chiropractic.

I want you to know that many of us are not just studying here because it’s a profession; we’re doing this because it’s a way to better health. So I want you to take that back to the Hill and to know that it’s near and dear to our hearts.”

The event was also attended by representatives of the Kansas Chiropractic Association and the Kansas Public Health Association.