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CALGARY — Chiropractic treatments for seniors in Alberta will be subsidized beginning in July, the provincial government announced Wednesday.

Health minister Fred Horne said the government had budgeted $7-million to give elderly citizens access to the controversial treatments; those registered with the provincial health benefit plan will receive $25 per treatment, up to $200 per year.

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The Alberta government de-listed the service in 2008 amid a worsening fiscal health care squeeze. Manitoba is the only other province to offer widely available coverage for chiropractic treatment.

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Seniors were particularly vocal when funding for chiropractic treatment was discontinued.

“We deemed this to be very important,” Mr. Horne said. “We talked a lot about wanting seniors to live independently as long as possible and seniors say that themselves.”

This government has long faced criticism over its treatment of seniors, with health advocates suggesting the lack of long-term care facilities in the province had led to a major crunch in hospital wards and emergency waiting rooms. In addition, the efficacy of many chiropractic treatments is still under debate.