Troy University, a public university in Alabama boasting a 138-year history (1887) and current enrollment topping 14,000 students, has announced it has received program approval from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education for a new doctor of chiropractic program – only the second at a public university in the U.S. Approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is pending.
The chiropractic program will be part of the university’s College of Health Sciences and will be administered at its Dothan, Ala. campus, according to the Troy U. press release announcing the program, which noted that the inaugural cohort of DC students will begin classes in fall 2027, pending final accreditation approval. Current majors offered within the College of Health Sciences include athletic training, exercise physiology, human services, interprofessional health sciences, kinesiology, nursing, nutrition, and social work.
“This is a historic decision that represents a transformative moment for healthcare in Alabama and the Southeast region,” commented Dr. Brad Russell, a board member for the Alabama State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, in the press release. “Alabama faces a critical shortage of healthcare providers, typically in rural communities. The state rates amongst the lowest nationally in healthcare access. This new program will directly address this crisis by training the next generation of chiropractic providers to understand Alabama’s healthcare needs and [ensure they] are committed to serving our communities.”
According to the release, Troy University’s decision to host the DC program at its Dothan campus was strategic, as “its proximity to multiple states [allows] the program to serve students from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and beyond.”
Recent laws in New Jersey and California represent a disturbing trend that will negatively impact a practice’s ability to collect monies from patients, as well as expose them to significant penalties if the practice does not follow the mandatory guidelines to a T. Please be aware that a similar law may be coming to your state. The time to act is before the law is passed.
With estimates showing over 30 million Americans affected by peripheral neuropathy – and a significant portion underdiagnosed – it’s increasingly likely that chiropractors are already treating these patients. What’s missing is structured recognition, comprehensive management and targeted tools to slow progression, improve function and support systemic health.
Each year, ICD-10-CM is updated on Oct. 1. For 2026, there are 74,179 total codes, with 487 additions, 28 deletions and 38 revisions. Code changes are based on date of service, not the claim submission date. Services performed on/after Oct. 1 must use the new codes. While no changes affect the common spinal or extraspinal codes most frequently used by DCs, several updates may still affect your claims – particularly for comorbidities, referred pain, or trauma cases.
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