Better Access to Chiropractic July Newsletter

Today, the politics of chiropractic are at a disadvantage.

  • The American Medical Association spent over $24 million last year lobbying.
  • The American Hospital Association spent $29 million, with over 100 lobbyists on payroll.
  • Even the physical therapists, through APTA, spent 2.5x more on lobbying and 4x more through PACs than the entire chiropractic profession.

Source: (OpenSecrets, 2024)

It’s not just a funding gap. It’s a firepower gap. And for years, we haven’t had the tools to fight with equal force.

But that’s changing.

Proof of Concept:
The Kiggans Ad

To combat the overwhelming political firepower of the AMA, AHA and WPTA, the Better Access to Chiropractic political action committee was created.  This independent expenditure Super PAC is already making a difference.

 

Watch the latest ad featuring Rep. Jen Kiggans – BAC-PAC

This 30-second spot didn’t just air – it moved the needle. It showed that BAC-PAC could elevate chiropractic visibility in key races, with a message that resonates beyond just our professional bubble.

It wasn’t just about chiropractic. It was about access to care. About personal freedom in healthcare choices. About protecting a patient’s right to choose providers who align with their values.

This is the kind of messaging that chiropractic has needed for decades, but never had the resources or platform to deliver at scale.

Why BAC-PAC Changes the Game

Let’s be clear: BAC-PAC isn’t a replacement for advocacy. It’s the multiplier.

For years, we’ve been playing defense with minimal funds, trying to protect scope, access, and insurance rights while other groups were writing the rules. BAC-PAC flips the script:

  • Super PAC status means it can accept corporate AND personal contributions.
  • No limits means it can grow as fast and as far as we’re willing to push it.
  • Focused, independent campaigns mean it can support chiropractic-positive candidates independently of national processes.

This is a tool not just for chiropractors, but for patients, suppliers, vendors, educators, and business partners who believe in what this profession can offer and want to see it thrive in the broader healthcare ecosystem.

Now Comes the Real Work

We have the tool. Now we need the will.

BAC-PAC isn’t a silver bullet. But it’s the first time we’ve had something close to a political launchpad. And it’s going to take more than a few committed people behind closed doors to make it matter.

  • We need donors -big and small.
  • We need strategic thinkers who understand policy, positioning, and public perception.
  • And we need engaged stakeholders who care about chiropractic’s future not just as a profession, but as a public good.
Donate Now

This isn’t about lobbying – it’s about voice

BAC-PAC is about being heard.

It’s about no longer waiting for permission to matter in the political landscape. It’s about stepping into the same arena as the AMA, the AHA, and the APTA – not with envy, but with energy.

We don’t need to imitate their model. We need to build our own – with clarity, with courage, and with capital.

Because when we show up, we change the story. And when we fund the right tools, we finally get to tell it ourselves.

Source:
OpenSecrets. (2024). Lobbying spending by the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, and American Physical Therapy Association [Data]. Retrieved from https://www.opensecrets.org