CHIROPRACTIC CLINICAL TRIALS.

SEC. 725. CHIROPRACTIC CLINICAL TRIALS.(a) Clinical Trials Required.—The Secretary of Defense shall provide for the clinical trials described under subsection (b) to be conducted by the National Institutes of Health or an independent academic institution as the Secretary shall select for the purposes of conducting each trial.(b) Clinical Trials Described.—(1) Controlled trials.—The clinical trials required by subsection (a) shall include controlled trials that, at a minimum, compare the outcomes of chiropractic treatment, used either exclusively or as an adjunct to other treatments, with conventional treatment on the following topics:(A) Pain management.(B) Orthopedic injuries or disorders that do not require surgery.(C) Smoking cessation.(2) Interventional trials.—The clinical trials required by subsection (a) shall include interventional trials that, at a minimum, cover the following topics:(A) The effect of chiropractic treatment on the reflexes and reaction times of special operation forces.(B) The effect of chiropractic treatment on strength, balance, and injury prevention for members of the Armed Forces with combat specialties operating in a combat theater.(c) Schedule.—(1) First trial.—The first clinical trial required by subsection (a) shall begin not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.(2) Final trial.—The final clinical trial required by subsection (a) shall begin not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.(d) Trial Participants.—A participant of a clinical trial required by subsection (a) shall be a member of the Armed Forces on active duty.(e) Chiropractic Providers.—Chiropractic treatment provided during a clinical trial required by subsection (a) shall be provided by a doctor of chiropractic who is licensed as a doctor of chiropractic, chiropractic physician, or chiropractor by a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States, subject to credentialing requirements prescribed by the Secretary.(f) Reports.—(1) Trial protocol reports.—Not later than 30 days before each clinical trial required by subsection (a) is scheduled to begin, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the protocol of such clinical trial.(2) Final reports.—Not later than one year after the completion of each clinical trial required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on such clinical trial, including any recommendations regarding chiropractic treatment for covered beneficiaries (as such term is defined in section 1072(5) of title 10, United States Code).123 STAT. 2395