Chiropractors Legal & Compliance Guidance

According to the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards, from 2017 to 2018, there were well over 90,000 chiropractors in the US who actively underwent several board exams to be state licensed. And as the managed healthcare system learns to embrace chiropractic treatment better, medical practitioners start experiencing rising numbers of malpractice claims. Such an increase has resulted in high demand for chiropractic legal aid.

Our Healthcare Legal Team is one of the few that specially caters to the legal and regulatory demands of healthcare providers specializing in this area, including:

  • Musculoskeletal chiropractors
  • Traditional wellness chiropractors
  • Medical institutions that employ chiropractorse

Chiropractic Legal Issues

Chiropractors face legal challenges that general lawyers often fully fail to understand. While many attorneys know business or contract law, they may not grasp the unique regulations governing chiropractic treatment, professional licensing, medical records obligations, scope-of-practice limits, or the compliance risks healthcare providers face. A chiropractic attorney or chiropractor license lawyer understands how these issues directly affect your ability to run a successful business, treat patients safely, and avoid disciplinary action. This is why many chiropractors choose attorneys who focus specifically on representing chiropractors and protecting their chiropractic practice.

The following are some of the key legal issues that we work on:

Practice Formations

We guide chiropractors through forming compliant business entities such as limited liability companies and professional corporations. Our chiropractic lawyers ensure your structure meets state laws and supports long-term practice growth.

Stark and Anti-kickback

Chiropractors frequently interact with other healthcare providers, labs, imaging centers, and consultants, creating potential referral risks. Our law group helps you avoid Stark and Anti-Kickback violations that could trigger audits, investigations, or disciplinary matters.

Fee-Splitting

Many chiropractors unknowingly engage in improper fee-splitting arrangements that violate state regulations. We help identify, correct, and prevent these violations so your chiropractic clinic stays compliant and protected.

Employment Legislation

Chiropractor employers must comply with strict rules surrounding wages, workplace conduct, and employee rights. Our attorneys ensure your office policies and agreements meet all legal requirements and minimize exposure to employment claims.

Corporate and Business Practices and Compliance

Running a chiropractic practice requires adherence to a wide range of healthcare regulations and business laws. We help chiropractors develop compliant systems for billing, documentation, and daily operations to prevent liability.

Employment Contracts

We review, draft, and negotiate employment contracts that protect your interests whether you’re hiring staff or joining another practice. Our chiropractic lawyer team ensures your agreements align with healthcare laws and professional standards.

Chiropractic Practice Restrictions

Each state imposes specific regulations on what chiropractic physicians may treat, how they may operate, and which modalities they may offer. We help chiropractors navigate these restrictions so they can treat patients safely without risking disciplinary action.

Group Practice or In-Office Ancillary Services (IOAS)

Group Practice or In-Office Ancillary Services (IOAS)

Chiropractors expanding into group practices or adding services like physical therapy, diagnostics, or wellness programs must follow strict compliance rules. We ensure your practice structure meets all legal and regulatory requirements.

Malpractice Claims

Chiropractors may face patient allegations involving serious injury, neck pain, or complications such as stroke symptoms. Our chiropractic lawyers defend your reputation and help you respond strategically to malpractice claims.

Licensing and Regulatory Compliance

Your chiropractor license is one of your most valuable assets, and any complaint or investigation can threaten your ability to practice. We represent chiropractors in administrative hearings, licensing board investigations, and regulatory compliance matters.

Employment Agreements

Employment Agreements

Employment agreements are critical for chiropractors, whether you are hiring new staff or joining an established chiropractic clinic. Our chiropractic attorneys make sure that every agreement, which includes pay, job responsibilities, non-compete rules, patient records, and ending the agreement, safeguards your interests, follows healthcare laws, and lowers the chances of problems later on.

Office Leasing and Contracts

Office Leasing and Contracts

Commercial leases and vendor contracts can contain hidden risks that affect your long-term business goals. Our attorneys review, negotiate, and structure contracts that protect your chiropractic practice and prevent future disputes.

Whether you require a chiropractic attorney for compliance concerns, audits, medical records disputes, investigations, or chiropractor license defense, our team is here to help you safeguard your career and your patients.

Licensing and Scope of Practice in 50 States

State licensing boards intend to protect public health and welfare and to ensure safe and ethical practice. This is why the chiropractic practice is regulated in all 50 states and in more than 25 countries worldwide. There is wide adaptation in terms of the scope of practice depending on the state or country. Most states in the US only allow spinal manipulation and very few permit various other procedures like electromyography, lab diagnostics, acupuncture, and the new and advanced treatment called Artrotism.

Based on an interview with Michael Schneider, a faculty member of health sciences of the University of Pittsburgh, released by TIME through:

“Chiropractic was the original holistic medicine in that it focused on treating the whole person, not just the body part that hurt.” “The controversy comes in when chiropractors make claims about treating non-musculoskeletal conditions”—claims he says have little or no scientific basis.

With all this being said, there are a lot of loopholes in terms of the legal and regulatory footprint of chiropractic practice which is why such issues are meticulously handled by experienced healthcare lawyers rather than your General Counsel or CLO.

man-suit-talking-phone-woman-making-notes-img

In Office Ancillary Services (IOAS)

This typically refers to health services group practices, which are being regulated by states and by the federal government itself. For instance, certain states mandate the presence of a non-chiropractic physician during the delivery of DHS services to patients. On top of that, the practice might have to guarantee that the medical practitioner in the practice spends an average of 75% of their professional hours working through the combined practice.

Just like most professions and businesses, chiropractic practices touch on many sections of the law, so finding the right lawyer to help with a chiropractic legal obstacle can be arduous, given the circumstances mentioned above.

How a Chiropractor License Law Firm Protects Your Practice

Chiropractors operate in a highly regulated environment, and even small oversights can lead to investigations, disciplinary action, or loss of your chiropractor license. A dedicated law firm for chiropractor licensing understands the unique legal issues that chiropractic physicians face, from compliance requirements to malpractice risks, and provides the strategic protection needed to keep your chiropractic practice safe, compliant, and thriving.

At Cohen Healthcare Law Group, our chiropractic attorneys help healthcare providers address legal matters before they escalate, defend against threats to their professional licensing, and support the long-term success of their chiropractic clinic. Here’s how we can protect your practice:

  • Ensure Licensing Compliance: We help chiropractors review and maintain full compliance with state chiropractic board regulations, ensuring that your practice follows all required rules and standards. Our chiropractic lawyers regularly guide providers through documentation, treatment protocols, and licensing obligations to prevent penalties or license suspension.
  • Defend Against Board Complaints: When a patient files a complaint or the board initiates an investigation, your career and reputation are on the line. Our chiropractor license defense attorneys represent you during administrative hearings, investigations, and disciplinary matters to protect your standing as a healthcare provider.
  • Risk Management Guidance: Strong risk management protects chiropractors from unnecessary legal exposure tied to treatment, documentation, or patient communication. We help develop compliant patient consent forms, medical records procedures, and office policies that reduce the likelihood of claims or regulatory violations.
  • Contract Review & Negotiation: Contracts are central to a successful business, whether you’re evaluating employment agreements, vendor contracts, or office leases. Our chiropractic attorneys review, draft, and negotiate agreements that safeguard your interests and prevent disputes that could disrupt your chiropractic practice.
  • Malpractice Defense Support: Chiropractors may face allegations related to neck pain, serious injury, stroke symptoms, or improper treatment procedures. Our chiropractic lawyer team assists with building a strong defense, managing investigations, and protecting your professional reputation in malpractice matters.
  • Practice Expansion & Sales: Whether you’re buying, selling, or merging a chiropractic clinic, legal considerations must be handled carefully to avoid hidden liabilities. We guide chiropractors through due diligence, compliance reviews, and contract negotiations to support smooth and secure practice transitions.
  • Proactive Legal Planning: The best protection for most chiropractors is preventing problems before they arise through strategic legal planning. Our law group identifies potential risks early, ensures compliance with healthcare regulations, and provides ongoing support so your practice remains legally secure and positioned for growth.

Why Choose Our Attorneys for Chiropractors

Chiropractors face complex legal issues that require more than a general legal background. They require lawyers who understand chiropractic treatment, professional licensing, healthcare regulations, and the daily realities of running a chiropractic practice. At Cohen Healthcare Law Group, our chiropractic attorneys offer focused experience representing chiropractors, protecting their licenses, defending against disciplinary action, and supporting the long-term success of chiropractic clinics and healthcare providers.

  • Specialized Chiropractic Expertise: Our attorneys understand the unique legal and regulatory challenges that chiropractic physicians face, including scope-of-practice rules, billing regulations, compliance requirements, and license-related risks. With deep experience representing chiropractors, we provide tailored guidance that a general lawyer or non-healthcare firm simply cannot match.
  • Comprehensive Practice Support: From business structures, limited liability companies, and employment agreements to chiropractic practice sales and expansions, we handle all legal matters affecting your practice. Our chiropractic lawyers support every stage of your business so you can focus on treating patients safely and growing a successful chiropractic clinic.
  • Responsive & Accessible: Urgent legal issues such as board complaints, demand letters, contract disputes, or regulatory violations require timely guidance from attorneys who understand chiropractic practice. Our team is accessible, responsive, and committed to helping chiropractors address legal matters quickly and effectively.
  • Client-Focused Approach: We prioritize clear communication, practical strategy, and protecting your professional interests at every turn. Chiropractors choose our law group because we focus on long-term success, helping you avoid unnecessary risks while keeping your practice compliant, secure, and prepared for the future.

FAQs for Chiropractors Seeking Legal Help

Chiropractors often deal with a mix of healthcare regulations, professional licensing requirements, business contracts, and patient-related risks, making legal guidance essential at every stage of practice. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions we’ve come across:

Chiropractors frequently deal with licensing board complaints, malpractice claims, billing and documentation audits, and scope-of-practice concerns. They also face legal matters involving contracts, regulatory compliance, employment issues, and chiropractic practice restrictions.

Yes, many chiropractors choose to work with lawyers who understand healthcare regulations, chiropractic treatment risks, and licensing requirements. A chiropractic attorney helps protect their business, defend their license, and prevent legal disputes.

Yes, hiring a chiropractic lawyer when starting your practice helps ensure your business structure, contracts, and compliance systems are set up correctly. Early legal guidance prevents costly mistakes and keeps your chiropractic clinic aligned with state regulations from day one.

Costs vary depending on whether you need help with contracts, compliance, board defense, or an ongoing legal matter. Most chiropractic attorneys offer customized services, and the investment helps protect your license, practice, and long-term career.

If you receive a board complaint, contact an attorney who defends chiropractor licenses immediately before responding. Early legal intervention helps protect your professional reputation and prevents the situation from escalating.

Contact Us

We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Start typing and press Enter to search