Chiropractic patients, providers deal with pain of losing Medicaid coverage

Mar. 17—MOORHEAD — For Ranee Raddohl, trips to the chiropractor keep her on her feet.

The Moorhead woman relies on chiropractic care to keep working after a workplace injury from repetitive heavy lifting caused pain and mobility issues.

"It's helping reduce my pain levels, and it's actually the only level of care that I have right now," Raddohl said.

Raddohl, who works part time to pay off debt, relied on Medicaid, a state and federally funded health care program for low-income people, to pay for her chiropractic care. But since Jan. 1, Raddohl has not been able to use her insurance to pay for the services.

Starting in January, state-run medical insurance programs in Minnesota stopped paying for chiropractic care for people 21 and older. The change was part of sweeping budget cuts passed during the 2025 legislative session in an effort to

stave off a looming $6 billion budget deficit.

According to a

Minnesota Management and Budget report,

the change was projected to save the state $7.8 million during the 2026-27 biennium. Chiropractic providers say the change could actually end up costing the state more money, as people who used Medicaid for chiropractic care are forced to seek more expensive treatments that are covered.

Dr. Beth Nokken, who runs Nokken Chiropractic and Massage in Moorhead, where Raddohl receives care, says the change cuts off a percentage of people with neck and back pain from receiving chiropractic care.

"They can no longer come to us, which means they're now going to the medical doctor, sometimes a walk-in clinic, sometimes the ER, which costs more money," Nokken said.

Minnesota has two affordable health insurance programs. Medical Assistance is the state's Medicaid program, for families and children with low incomes, older adults and people with disabilities. MinnesotaCare is a low-cost option for people with slightly higher income levels who are ineligible for Medicaid.

Now, neither program covers chiropractic services for people ages 21 and older. Previously, the programs covered up to 24 visits to treat spinal pain and conditions related to the spine, along with X-rays and an annual evaluation.

According to Minnesota Department of Human Services data, in 2023, around 100,900 people used their MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance benefits for chiropractic care. Of the total, more than 73,000 were ages 21 and older.

Nokken said the change in coverage leaves patients with Medicaid to pay out of pocket or seek other, more expensive ways to manage pain, like drugs or physical therapy. To help those patients afford chiropractic care, Nokken offers them a hardship rate for services.

Raddohl said she can afford chiropractic care at the reduced rate every two weeks, but knows there are others who cannot.

"I'm just really fortunate that I can afford to pay for this service, because I can't leave it now," Raddohl said. "It's literally the only thing that's keeping me moving."

In Dilworth, Dr. Broderick Schmidt, of Legacy Chiropractic and Wellness, is also offering reduced out-of-pocket rates for patients with Medicaid. He echoed concerns that patients will seek out more expensive care.

"The back pain or the neck discomfort, all those ailments, they're not going anywhere," Schmidt said.

While some patients have continued to pay out of pocket through the beginning of the year, Dr. Adam Millsop, president of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association, expects people to turn to other ways of treating their pain.

"You see that right now, but I don't think that that's sustainable for most people, and so they will shift, and you might go to physical therapy, you might go to more prescriptions," Millsop said.

Chiropractors are also feeling the pain as patients seek other forms of care. Nokken said Medicaid patients made up between 12% and 17% of her business.

Sen. Rob Kupec, DFL-Moorhead,

introduced a bill

in the Minnesota Legislature this session to restore Medicaid coverage for chiropractic services.

"I've heard several heartbreaking stories about people who are dealing with some chronic pain, and this is their one pain relief," Kupec said. "And now this option seems to have gone away."

Kupec said he is advocating for the bill to have a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services committee, but is unsure if it will move ahead this year because it relates to the state budget. The Legislature sets the budgets every other year, and 2025 was a budget year.

© 2026 the Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.). Visit www.grandforksherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.