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Study Finds Chiropractic Care a Safe and Effective Option for Pain Relief
Several studies report that compared to pain medications, chiropractic care is a safe and effective choice to treat pain without any side effects.
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Pain relievers such as over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are often the first choice to get relief from acute or chronic pain. However, many studies have proven that this is not a very good option. According to the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association, chiropractic care may be a safer alternative to commonly used medications in relieving pain. Whether the condition is low back pain, arm pain, chronic headache, or even joint pain, specialized chiropractic treatments have been proven to help patients lead a more independent, pain-free life. For any service chiropractors provide, chiropractic billing services aim at achieving maximum reimbursement for their services. Acute low back pain is a major concern for many, which can be treated effectively with spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). Dr Cassandra Fairest, chiropractor and spokesperson for the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association, also referred to a study by American researchers which has proven that the benefit of SMT for acute low back pain is similar to the relief obtained from the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, chiropractic care has none of the risks associated with medications. The ultimate goal of chiropractic is to help relieve pain and improve mobility. Along with spinal manipulation, chiropractic care now includes a wide variety of other treatments, including manual or manipulative therapies, postural and exercise education, ergonomic training (how to walk, sit, and stand to limit back strain), nutritional consultation, and more. A similar study was recently published in the journal Spine, which suggests that treating acute, non-specific lower back pain with spinal manipulation therapy is more effective than treatment with the non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. These findings prove that chiropractic care is a safe and effective pain management alternative. With increasing recognition of the effectiveness of chiropractic treatments, insurers have started providing coverage for some of these services.
Learn about Chiropractic Medical Billing and Coding Unlike previous years, many insurance plans now cover a certain number of chiropractic services per person per plan year. The only chiropractic treatment Medicare Part B covers is manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation (a bone in your spine that is out of position). The treatment must be considered medically necessary and must be provided by a chiropractor or other qualified provider.
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Also keep in mind that
Maintenance care is not reimbursable by Medicare, as it is not considered as medically reasonable and necessary. Only acute and chronic spinal manipulation services are considered active care and therefore reimbursable.
Even though non-par providers may receive reimbursement for rendered services directly from their Medicare patients, they must still submit a bill to Medicare so the beneficiary may be reimbursed for the portion of the charges for which Medicare is responsible.
Even if chiropractors use an x-ray or other services to diagnose the subluxation, Medicare won't reimburse for the use of an x-ray machine or for the extended examination.
Private health insurers may cover some chiropractic services. For instance, Aetna considers chiropractic services medically necessary and reimbursable when all of the following criteria are met. You have a neuromusculoskeletal disorder, and The medical necessity for treatment is clearly documented, and Improvement is documented within the initial 2 weeks of chiropractic care. Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers coverage for chiropractic services. All details are provided in their policy. Typically, chiropractic coverage by private insurers includes evaluation and management (E&M) services (e.g., 99202, 99203, 99212, and 99213), radiology procedures (72081—72084;
73501—73503;
73521—73523;
73551&
73552),
chiropractic
spinal
manipulative treatment (98940, 98941, 98942, and 98943), modalities such as mechanical traction
(97012), unattended
electrical
muscle
stimulation
(97014/G0283), ultrasound
(97035), and therapeutic procedures such as therapeutic exercises (97110), manual therapy (97140), and therapeutic activities (97530). Providers of chiropractic insurance billing service use valid ICD-10 codes to facilitate insurance authorization, claims payments and support the medical necessity of the service in case of review, audits or litigation. Coders with Certified Chiropractic Professional Coder (CCPC™) credential will have sufficient experience and expertise in chiropractic coding. The AT modifier that defines the difference between active treatment and maintenance treatment must be used on all adjustment codes. Medicare pays only for active/corrective treatment to correct acute or chronic subluxation.
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Some commonly used ICD-10 codes include G56.01 Carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper limb G56.02 Carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper limb M25.541 Pain in joints of right hand M25.542 Pain in joints of left hand M25.511 Pain in right shoulder M25.512 Pain in left shoulder M48.06 Spinal stenosis, lumbar region M54.5 Low back pain M76.61 Achilles tendinitis, right leg M76.62 Achilles tendinitis, left leg M62.830 Muscle spasm of back M79.1 Myalgia Busy chiropractors can outsource their billing tasks to experienced medical billing companies that adhere to the highest ethical standards, coding guidelines and HIPAA compliance.