PATIENT ADVOCACY Resources
PATIENT ADVOCACY FLYERS
Chiropractors are licensed to download and distribute these patient advocacy flyers to their patients. ChiroCongress member state associations and donors to Chiropractic Future are licensed to download and distribute these flyers to chiropractors for use in their practices. These materials are for patient education and advocacy only and may not be modified or used for commercial purposes.
Why Are My Copays So High?
How Insurance Models Impact Care
Prior Authorization Toolkit
Reimbursement Workgroup
Prior Authorization
Employers, Legislators & Regulators
This toolkit helps you clearly and confidently explain how prior authorization (PA) policies are harming patients, delaying recovery, and interfering with effective care. Use it to prepare for conversations, dispel common myths, and empower others to advocate for change.
This toolkit is organized by audience. Each section includes a 30-second script, a 3-minute guide, and 30-minute educational content with talking points, analogies, and FAQs. Click any entry to jump directly to that section.
01IntroductionOverview & How to Use→
02PatientsScripts & FAQs→
03Employers & HR RepresentativesScripts & FAQs→
04Legislators (State-Level)Scripts & FAQs→
05Regulatory Staff & Policy ExpertsScripts & FAQs→
06Supporting Evidence & CitationsResearch & Data Sources→
This Toolkit
This toolkit was created to help you clearly and confidently explain how prior authorization (PA) policies are harming patients, delaying recovery, and interfering with effective care. Whether you’re speaking with a patient, employer, corporate contact, HR professional, legislator, or regulator, the goal is the same: to make sure they understand that care decisions should be made between the doctor and patient — based on clinical judgment and mutual agreement — not dictated by insurance companies focused on cost control.
We know this document is long, and it’s not meant to be memorized. Think of it as a reference guide. You can review it ahead of a hallway conversation, a meeting with a corporate contact, or an advocacy briefing to quickly get grounded in what matters most for that audience.
A strong opening statement or elevator pitch for quick encounters.
A deeper, conversational explanation for short meetings like hallway conversations.
Talking points, examples, and FAQs to prepare or educate more thoroughly.
“Insurance companies have controlled the narrative for too long. They’ve framed prior authorization as a responsible cost-control tool, when in reality, it often functions as a barrier to timely, evidence-based care.”
The more consistently we speak the truth about these policies, the harder it becomes for insurers to hide behind jargon and delay tactics. This toolkit helps you lead that conversation.
“Too often, insurance companies decide when or if you get care, not your doctor. That’s what happens with prior authorization. It creates delays that make your condition worse, and it’s even used to block safe, effective, low-cost care like chiropractic. Your health shouldn’t be held hostage by paperwork. You and your doctor should be in charge, not an insurance company trying to save a few bucks.”
Prior authorization means your doctor has to get permission from your insurance company before starting your treatment. Even for something safe and affordable like chiropractic care, insurers can take days or weeks to respond — and they may not approve what your doctor recommends. These delays can make symptoms worse, interfere with your recovery, and sometimes force people to turn to medications or urgent care instead. The process adds stress, reduces access, and puts insurers between you and your doctor. Your care should be based on what works, not on red tape. Ask questions, check your plan, and push for better coverage.
Like having to get corporate permission before using your umbrella in the rain.
You have a sore back and a solution that works — but you’re stuck waiting for approval.
Highlight a story where delayed chiropractic care led to worsened pain or increased medication use — making the human cost of bureaucratic delay real and relatable.
HR Representatives
“Prior authorization might look like a cost-saving measure, but in reality it delays care, frustrates employees, and increases long-term expenses. Employees who can’t access simple care like chiropractic early on may end up needing more time off, more prescriptions, and more expensive interventions. Better access means better outcomes — and better value for your benefits dollar.”
Employers want a healthy workforce and a benefits package that works. But prior authorization gets in the way. It forces employees to wait for treatment — even for basic services like chiropractic care. That delay increases pain, prolongs time away from work, and leads to avoidable costs like ER visits or medication use. Removing prior authorization for low-risk, high-value services speeds up recovery and reduces total health spend. It also improves employee morale, reduces HR administrative load, and shows that your company values health. Let your plans work smarter — not harder against your employees.
Like slowing down your IT department by requiring approval to restart a computer.
Red tape makes recovery harder and longer — costing employers in lost productivity and higher claims.
A timeline comparing employee recovery with and without prior authorization delays illustrates the total cost difference clearly for HR decision-makers.
(State-Level)
Before engaging with legislators or sharing any messaging in this section, you must coordinate with your state chiropractic association. Advocacy efforts are most effective when aligned, consistent, and strategically timed. Uncoordinated communication, even when well-intended, can undermine broader legislative strategy. Always work through your state association to ensure your voice strengthens — rather than fragments — the collective impact.
“Prior authorization was intended to control costs, but it’s hurting patients. Delays for care like chiropractic are causing people to suffer longer, miss work, and rely on more expensive treatments. State lawmakers can lead the way by reducing or eliminating prior authorization for services that are proven, effective, and affordable.”
State legislators have an opportunity to protect patients and improve care by addressing prior authorization reform. In many states, even low-cost services like chiropractic care require prior authorization, which causes harmful delays. These delays contribute to worse outcomes and increase costs downstream by pushing patients into more intensive or pharmaceutical care. Prior authorization also creates unnecessary administrative waste and contributes to physician burnout. Streamlining or eliminating prior authorization for certain services would improve outcomes, reduce burdens, and return control to the provider-patient relationship. Reform is both pro-patient and fiscally responsible.
Like putting a gate on a bike path and making people wait for a key before they can use it.
Use patient or provider testimony from your district — a constituent story is the most powerful tool in a legislative meeting.
Policy Experts
As with legislative outreach, any communication with regulatory agencies or policy staff should be coordinated through your state chiropractic association. Regulatory strategy often operates in parallel with legislative efforts and requires careful alignment of messaging, data, and timing. Always connect with your state association before engaging with regulators.
“Prior authorization is now being used in ways that go far beyond its original intent. For routine services like chiropractic care, it delays treatment, reduces care quality, and increases system inefficiencies. Regulators can help correct this by reassessing the scope and criteria for prior authorization requirements.”
PA was introduced to curb excessive or unnecessary care. But today it’s frequently applied to low-risk, non-invasive services like chiropractic — where risks are low and benefits are well-established. This creates system-wide inefficiencies: delays, patient frustration, higher medication use, and more ER visits. Most PA requests are eventually approved, raising questions about their necessity. Regulatory bodies can modernize these rules and reduce unintended harms by encouraging smarter, data-driven use of PA tools.
Require public reporting on PA metrics
Encourage automation & trusted provider pathways
“If a policy doesn’t improve quality or reduce cost, why are we still using it?”
Like a TSA checkpoint for a public library — security theater with no threat to address.
Flowcharts of patient experience under current vs. reformed prior authorization rules make the regulatory burden visible and quantifiable for policy staff.
& Citations
delayed or abandoned care
approved — raising the question: why?
