WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to expand chiropractic health services for military retirees and members of the National Guard and Reserve. The Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act would require TRICARE to cover chiropractic services for all military service members, both active and retired, and non-activated reservists.

Currently, healthcare programs through the U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, do not cover chiropractic care for military retirees and non-activated reservists. Sen. Moran’s bill continues his bipartisan efforts to address the opioid epidemic by expanding access to complementary and integrative health services, which includes chiropractic care, for members of the military and veteran communities to treat chronic pain.

“Many of the retired servicemembers and Reservists who served our country have sustained back and other neuromusculoskeletal injuries that can be treated through chiropractic care,” said Sen. Moran. “However, the Department of Defense offers limited access to chiropractic care for Active duty and certain members of the Reserve Component – leaving many in need at a disadvantage. I’ve long advocated for increased access to chiropractic care in the VA, and this legislation will similarly increase access to chiropractic care for all military enrollees by expanding TRICARE coverage for retirees and all reservists. The men and women who have served our nation deserve access to the same care they received while on active duty, and I’m pleased to introduce legislation that makes certain they do.”

“Chiropractors have become valued members of the military healthcare team. Their non-drug, non-addictive and noninvasive approach to pain management is particularly relevant today for people who wish to avoid the risk of addiction from prescription opioid pain medications. This legislation will ensure that military retirees in the TRICARE system have access to the same effective, non-drug options for their pain,” said Dr. Ray Tuck, President of the American Chiropractic Association.

“As a member organization of the National Military and Veterans Alliance, the Armed Forces Retirees Association (AFRA) is pleased to collaborate with many other military and veterans service organizations in support of this legislation. Many retirees benefited from chiropractic care while on active duty and these injuries need continued treatment upon retirement. Your legislation will provide continuity in care for retirees while also making chiropractic coverage available to certain reservists, recognizing that they often suffer from the same injuries as their active duty counterparts,” said Ted Painter, Executive Director of the Armed Forces Retirees Association (AFRA) and Co-Director of the National Military and Veterans Alliance.

More information about the legislation is available here.

The Chapman Hometown Country Christmas is scheduled on Friday, November 23rd.

The event is sponsored by the Chapman Economic Development Council. It will begin with a hamburger feed at the American Legion from 5-7 p.m. The Christmas tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. and you can sign up for Chapman Bucks throughout the day until 6:45 p.m. The Chapman Bucks drawing will be at the senior citizen center at 7 p.m. You must be present to win drawings.

Santa Claus will arrive in downtown Chapman at 7 p.m. Children will be able to get a photo taken with Santa and receive candy.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has approved a two-year contract for Chamber President of Operations Mickey Fornaro-Dean.

According to Board member Ben Bennett, she will be paid a salary of $132,000 per year, up from a $125,000 salary paid under a one-year contract that had been in effect. The title of Interim has been removed from the position for Fornaro-Dean, and Bennett noted the Chamber does not fund benefits for the position.

The Geary County Commission is moving forward on collection of delinquent taxes. Chairman Charles Stimatze said counselor Steve Opat had collected $572,000 in delinquent tax payments.

A property tax sale is being planned in the January time frame, explained Stimatze. “We’re on track or in time to have the sale first of the year.” Properties on which delinquent taxes are owed are sold during tax sales.

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club has donated $200 to Quality Play for All for their project to upgrade the playground equipment in the Fifth Street Park in Junction City.

The equipment and playground area will be ADA compliant and completed in phases. Work on Phase one is under way now. Volunteers have assisted with preparation of the grounds and installation of the equipment. A community development block grant provided funding for the project.

Phase II will include a double basketball court, volleyball sand court, possible shelter house, restroom upgrades and a splash park. Phase III will include concrete walkways around the play area and a parking lot, which is intended to be completed in 2020. Phase IV is also to be completed in 2020 and will include a roundabout built by the city, and Phase V will be completed in 2021 with a stage, lighting and dressing area.

Others may donate to Quality Play for All at www.PlayJC.org or mail the contribution to P.O. Box 411, Junction City, KS 66441.

A total of 6,218 people cast a ballot in Geary County in last week’s general election. That equates to 35.82% of the registered voters in the county.

The numbers were reported by Geary County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke following the canvass of the votes by the Geary County Commission sitting as the Board of Canvassers on Tuesday. Nordyke felt the election went smoothly. She was excited about the voter turnout. “That’s higher than we’ve seen in quite a number of years. I just hope it translates into folks turning out for our city – school elections next year and then our 2020 elections.

The turnout was up in a year when voters elected a new governor for Kansas, Democrat Laura Kelly.

The Red Cross Blood Drive in Junction City on Tuesday received a total of 55 units of blood, one unit shy of the goal of 56 that had been set for the day. Coordinator Jolene Stackhouse said the drive continues on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  at the Municipal Building.  All donors will be welcomed.

You can call 1-800-Red Cross to make an appointment, and walk-in’s are also welcome.