Kiggans Presses Hampton VA on Access to Chiropractic Care

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, Congresswoman Kiggans formally requested Dr. Taquisa Simmons, the executive director of the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), to examine and take action on recent care denials of over 25 patients.    

Congresswoman Kiggans met with Dr. Simmons and her staff in April to raise concerns surrounding access to chiropractic care for veterans at the Hampton VAMC. However, veterans are still citing denials of chiropractic care which are negatively impacting their ability to work and decreasing their quality of life.  

“Patients continue to reach out to my office to express their frustrations about how their lives have been negatively impacted following a discontinuation of chiropractic care,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “They describe an inability to perform basic tasks such as climbing up stairs and showering without assistance due to debilitating pain… The highest priority for the Hampton VAMC should be the delivery of safe and quality healthcare for our nation’s veterans. As a third-generation veteran, I will continue to advocate for all those who have served and ensure they receive the care they deserve.”

The letter can be found here, and is included below in full:

Dear Dr. Simmons, 

I write today to express my continued concerns regarding access to chiropractic care for veterans at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Hampton VAMC) and to request that recent care denials be reexamined. 

On Thursday, April 24, 2024, I raised concerns related to access to care with you and your staff. Following that meeting, my office was provided with a service care agreement between Hampton VAMC’s Chiropractic Clinic and Primary Care Service. One of the provisions within the agreement stipulates, “In the instance of prior chiropractic care, documentation of meaningful clinical improvement is required. Meaningful Clinical Improvement is considered a minimum of 20% improvement by objective measures…” However, in further conversations with my office, many patients and their providers have alleged that while documentation submitted to the Hampton VAMC did show the requisite improvement, care was still denied. 

Patients continue to reach out to my office to express their frustrations and describe how their lives have been negatively impacted following a discontinuation of chiropractic care. They cite an inability to perform basic tasks such as climbing up stairs and showering without assistance due to debilitating pain. Others have reported increases in spinal pain, difficulties with mobility, and have detailed how this is directly impacting their ability to work and live. 

The highest priority for the Hampton VAMC should be the delivery of safe and quality healthcare for our nation’s veterans. To accompany this letter, my office is transmitting information from over 25 patients for further review to determine if their care was discontinued appropriately. Thank you for your attention to my request. Please do not hesitate to have your staff contact my office with any questions. 

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