In response to the advocacy efforts of the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association and concerns raised by key legislative allies of both political parties, the Wisconsin Medicaid Office has agreed to pause moving forward with changes affecting access to chiropractic care.
Potential Changes Include:
According to information obtained during a recent meeting between WCA leadership and Medicaid representatives, WI Medicaid is looking to limit the number of chiropractic visits to 20 per calendar year, after which preauthorization would be required. Current Wisconsin Medicaid policy allows 20 chiropractic visits per spell of illness with no calendar year limit.
The other changes appear to be modifications to the 30-day “pause” between spell of illnesses. The rationale behind these changes appears to be a cohort of chiropractors who are consistently exceeding the 20-visit limit each year.
What the WCA Has Been Doing
Since that meeting, the WCA has been working with pro-chiropractic members of the Wisconsin Legislature, the Governor’s Office and the Wisconsin State Medicaid Office to better understand the intent of the proposed changes and raise concerns related to how these changes could limit access to chiropractic care for Medicaid patients through new preauthorization requirements.
The proposed changes have drawn the concerns of State Representative Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) and Senator Rachel Cabral Guevera (R-Appleton) chairs of the respective Assembly and Senate Health Committees.
Rep. Moses Sends Letter to Medicaid
State Representative Clint Moses (R-Menomonie), the only chiropractor in the Wisconsin Legislature, sent a letter to Medicaid on April 9th, 2026 asking for “all available information related to these proposed changes.” The letter went on to say: “While we understand that materials may still be in draft form, the lack of available information is contributing to significant uncertainty among providers… Providers have concerns regarding these changes and how they will restrict a patient’s access to needed healthcare.”
State Sen. Cabral Guevera Sends Letter to Medicaid
State Senator Rachel Cabral Guevera (R-Appleton) sent an email to WI Medicaid on March 31, 2026 asking for “a summary of the proposed changes and why they are being considered.”
Other legislative offices from both political parties have also reached out informally to the Governor’s Office and the Wisconsin Medicaid Office to similarly request information and raise concerns.
“The WCA appreciates the willingness of the Wisconsin Medicaid Office to continue to work with us and interested legislators on how best to address the issue of high utilization while still protecting access to chiropractic care in Wisconsin,” said WCA ExecutiveDirector John Murray.
Watch for future updates from the WCA on this topic and direct any questions to WCA Executive Director John Murray at jmurray@wichiro.org.