Medicare Non-Covered Services

In the Medicare program the only covered service for a Chiropractor is the Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy (CMT) – the adjustment. ALL other services are non-covered and should be modified with a GY modifier indicating that the service is a non-covered service. You are NOT required to file non-covered services to Medicare. As a matter of fact, […]

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Wireless (WiFi) Networks are NOT Secure

Wireless networks are subject to being breached and all your patient information being stolen. Stolen protected health information (PHI) is a serious HIPPA violation. Click here to see how wireless networks are compromised. Protect yourself and your patients … insist that your network be cabled … not wireless.

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Modifier 59 – Manual Therapy & Diagnosis Pointers

The billing of an Adjustment (CMT 98940, 98941 or 98942) and a Manual Therapy Technique (97140) on the same visit is not generally allowed. The rationale is due to overlap of preservice, intraservice, and postservice work that is inherent to both codes. The intraservice overlap occurs as the provider identifies the osseous, articular, and soft […]

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Prolonged Outpatient E/M Service

Evaluation and Management services (E/M) can be selected based on medical decision making (MDM) or Time. Codes should be chosen based upon the severity of the presenting problem, intensity of management and other aspects of medical necessity. A prolonged service is a service that requires more time than that specified in the E/M code. Prolonged […]

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Medicare Fees in the Chiropractic Office

How much you should bill to Medicare and how much you should collect from the patient is dependent upon several factors: Is the doctor a participator Is the doctor a non-participator not accepting assignment Is the doctor a non-participator accepting assignment What is the Medicare fee schedule for your state and region Is Medicare traditional […]

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Charging Full Fee for Medicare Adjustment

Once a Medicare patient has completed his treatment plan he should be treated thereafter on maintenance care which is not payable under Medicare rules. Although maintenance adjustments are not payable, they are still a covered service and must be filed. In order for you to be paid for these adjustments the patient should sign an […]

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M54.5 Low Back Pain Code No Longer Valid

As of October 1, 2021, M54.5 (Low Back Pain) is no longer a valid diagnosis code. It has been replaced by more specific codes. This means that all your existing patients with a M54.5 diagnosis must be updated. The new valid codes are as follows: M54.50  Low back pain, unspecified M54.51  Vertebrogenic low back pain […]

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X-Ray Date No Longer Required

In days past if you depended upon an x-ray to demonstrate subluxation, you were required to show the date of the x-ray in block 19 in the claim form. For example: This is no longer required. Currently, any date placed in item 19 is considered date of last x-ray. It is recommended that providers do […]

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Medicare Card

A Medicare card is issued to every person who is entitled to Medicare benefits and may be identified by its red, white and blue coloring. (See also Railroad Medicare) This card identifies the Medicare patient and includes the following information: • Name • Medicare Number (a randomized alphanumeric number – Medicare cards that bear the […]

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Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT)

The CERT program is designed to determine if Medicare contractors are processing and paying claims correctly. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) developed the CERT program to determine national, contractor specific, provider compliance error rates, paid claims error rates, and claims processing error rates. Every month, the CERT contractor selects a random sample […]

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