Chiropractors and physical therapists would get a boost from a bill that cleared a House committee Thursday.

The bill would require health insurance companies covering some 2 million people in the state to offer a lower co-pay for chiropractors and physical and occupational therapists.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Cullie Tarleton, started out as a do-over for a requirement that patients could see chiropractors and pay the same co-payment they are charged for seeing a family doctor.

That benefit was inserted into the budget by former House Speaker Jim Black four years ago. It helped land him in prison when three chiropractors admitted to giving him cash payments while pushing their legislative agenda. It was later rescinded.

Tarleton said the benefit was rescinded because of the circumstances surrounding it, not because it wasn't good policy.

"This is a really a patient's bill, plain and simple," said Tarleton, a Blowing Rock Democrat.

More after the jump.

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State legislators have already asked for $73.8 million.

Seven bills filed on the first two days of the session include spending requests for specific programs, even though the state could be facing a $2 billion shortfall.

The largest request so far is for $44 million to give public school teachers bonuses earned in 2007-08 that were not given out. The smallest is for $25,000 for the Southern Appalachian Historical Association to present the outdoor drama "Horn in the West."

Other spending bills would compensate victims of a state sterilization program, develop a database of those victims, open two family assistance centers for the National Guard, hire social workers for the developmentally disabled, and train teachers to work with preschoolers with cochlear implants.

These kinds of spending bills are typical for the legislature, and many never make it out of committee. In a tight budget year, they will have even less of a chance, however.

Dome will be tracking spending bills over the next few weeks in the spreadsheet below.

A bill to require insurers to cover chiropractic services at the same rate as primary-care doctors has a tough climb.

Former House Speaker Jim Black included similar legislation in the 2005 budget, but legislators later stripped it when it was revealed that Black had received illegal cash payments totaling $30,000 from chiropractors.

In addition, insurance companies argue that it is more effective for people to see a primary-care doctor first and then, if necessary, get a referral. That practice puts chiropractors in the position of specialists who have a higher copayment. 

In 2007, Blue Cross officials estimated the change cost them $8 million in less than a year. But backers say they're hearing from constituents in favor of the move. 

"Chiropractors perform a valuable service," said Rep. Cullie Tarleton, a Democrat from Blowing Rock who sponsored the bill. "Even our U.S. Olympic teams have a chiropractor." (N&O)

More bills were filed this morning in the House:

H.B. 7: Victory Junction Gang Camp License Plate, Reps. Harold Brubaker, Pat Hurley

H.B. 8: Prohibit Cell Phones in Prison, Rep. Garland Pierce

H.B. 9: No Texting While Driving, Pierce

H.B. 10: Garnish Wages to Satisfy a Judgement, Reps. Tim Moore, Laura Wiley

H.B. 11: Regulation of Golf Carts in Grover, Moore

H.B. 12: Bioptic Lenses/Drivers License Tests

H.B. 13: Horn in the West Funds, Rep. Cullie Tarleton

H.B. 14: Chiropractic Services/Insurance, Tarleton

H.B. 15: Military Family Assistance Centers/Funds, Tarleton