Military families can receive free chiropractic care via Patriot Project

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tristan Truesdell
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

By law, all veterans with service-related disabilities are required to have access to chiropractic care. Stated in Public Law 107-135 legislation, signed by President George W. Bush, chiropractic care became a permanent benefit for recipients of veteran's health care service.

However, most veterans - and their families - are not aware they have free access.

A nonprofit organization resulted of this legislation: the Patriot Project.

The Patriot Project's mission is to provide chiropractic care to all active-duty military, their families, wounded warriors and all Gold Star dependents.

As such, one Great Falls chiropractic clinic has volunteered time to provide said free chiropractic services to all active-duty military, their families and veterans.

Purvis Chiropractic is responsible for two of three doctors in the entire state, and currently the only office in Great Falls, who provides free treatments.

"This allows two of our doctors to treat one military member or immediate family once a week, for absolutely free," said Shalonda Kull, Purvis Chiropractic office administrator. "Which means two people per week get a free treatment.

"The doctors do not get reimbursed in any way," said Kull. "They simply want to support our military."

In the past five months, the clinic has supported 40 different members within the Malmstrom Air Force Base community.

Normally, an appointment with a chiropractor can cost $60 to $120 per appointment.

"These treatments will be continuing in 2020," said Kull. "That means up to 104 patients will be treated for free, at the cost of $10,400 unpaid visits to the clinic.

"Our clinic works daily with Veterans Affairs to help ensure veterans are getting their treatments covered," she said. "We see active duty, dependents and retirees on a daily basis."

How to sign up
Individuals who would like set up an appointment would first need to fall under the requirements: be active duty, a military dependent or a veteran.

Then, go to https://patriotproject.nationbuilder.com/login to sign up.

To make an appointment with the clinic, call 406-453-8885 for the next available Patriot Project appointment.

Since the clinic can only treat two people per week, a wait time is to be expected.

"We can always get someone in sooner," said Kull. "However, they would need to pay for the visit and still get a follow-on through the patriot project.

"Chiropractic care is an important part of keeping healthy and healing injuries," she continued. "Our military families deserve to receive this treatment and this is a way for us to give back and help spread the word."

For more information, visit http://www.patriot-project.org/.