Treatment FAQ

how to explain acute treatment requirements for chiropractic care

by Fannie Collier Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

What are the guidelines for a chiropractic treatment program?

Chiropractic Treatment Program Guidelines 1 Common Chiropractic Treatment Plans. ... 2 Chiropractors often give advice on how to avoid future problems by evaluating: Home exercise program. ... 3 Treatment Program Questions. ... 4 Potential Red Flags about Chiropractic Treatment Programs. ...

What is involved in chiropractic treatment?

Treatment typically involves manual therapy, often including spinal manipulation. Other forms of treatment, such as exercise and nutritional counseling, may be used as well. Chiropractors approach patient care in a manner similar to that used in conventional medicine.

How many times a week should I see a chiropractor?

In general, in the absence of progressive worsening of a condition during chiropractic care, a common chiropractic program is 3 times per week for 2 to 4 weeks, followed by a re-evaluation.

When is chiropractic treatment considered maintenance therapy?

When further clinical improvement cannot reasonably be expected from continuous ongoing care, and the chiropractic treatment becomes supportive rather than corrective in nature, the treatment is then considered maintenance therapy. (CMS Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 240.1.3A)

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Common Chiropractic Program Plans

Good chiropractors do everything in their power to help their patients feel better as fast as possible with as few chiropractic treatments as neces...

Chiropractic Treatment Program Questions

Questions to ask about the specific chiropractic treatment for back pain or other symptoms may include the following: 1. What is the chiropractor's...

Potential Red Flags About Chiropractic Treatment Programs

There are a few elements of chiropractic treatment programs that most chiropractors agree are questionable. Examples include: 1. Manipulation of sy...

Can an unlicensed chiropractor diagnose?

Unlicensed individuals are not permitted to diagnose, analyze, or perform a chiropractic adjustment. An “unlicensed individual” is defined as any person, including a student or graduate of a chiropractic institution, who does not hold a valid California chiropractic license. An exemption is hereby created for student doctors participating in board approved preceptorship programs.

Can a student chiropractor be unlicensed in California?

Unlicensed individuals who exceed the permitted scope of practice set forth in this regulation shall be in violation of Section 15 of the Chi ropractic Act and shall be prohibited from applying for a California chiropractic license for such time as may be determined by the board. Student doctors participating in board approved preceptorship programs are not to be considered “unlicensed individuals” when working in said program.

How do chiropractors approach patients?

Chiropractors approach patient care in a manner similar to that used in conventional medicine. They interview the patient, obtain a detailed health history, perform an examination, do tests, and develop a working diagnosis. They then develop a management plan, start treatment, and monitor the patient’s progress.

What is the curriculum for chiropractic?

Chiropractic education includes classes in basic sciences, such as anatomy and physiology, and supervised clinical experience in which students learn skills such as spinal assessment, adjustment techniques, and making diagnoses.

What degree do chiropractors need?

To practice in the United States, chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam, and have a state license.

What is the main function of a chiropractor?

Chiropractors often treat problems related to the musculoskeletal system. The manual treatment methods used by chiropractors range from stretching and sustained pressure to specific joint manipulations, which are usually delivered by hand and involve a quick and gentle thrust.

Does insurance cover chiropractors?

The scope of chiropractors’ practice (that is, the types of services they are allowed to provide) varies from state to state. Health insurance plans may cover chiropractic, but coverage may be partial rather than complete.

Is NCCIH a substitute for medical advice?

NCCIH has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider (s). We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCIH.

How many visits to a chiropractor?

From there you just need to go on what you know in your gut and from your experience to be true. In some cases you will feel that it’s necessary to go over 18 visits. So, if you do exceed the 18 visits for acute chiropractic care, you may encounter issues with certain insurance companies.

Is subluxation necessary for chiropractic care?

You’re really dealing with a whole person that’s walking into your chiropractic clinic and there is really no way to say definitively that all subluxations for any given patient on any given day are only medically necessary or only wellness chiropractic treatment. There will always be a combination of the two.

Can Medicare audit chiropractic?

However, being subject to a Medicare audit shouldn’t determine whether you’re providing acute medically necessary chiropractic care, or chiropractic wellness care. Yet, at the same time, you do not want to run afoul of Medicare and undergo a big Medicare audit. So you need to be careful there.

How many phases of chiropractic care are there?

When you take an in-depth look at earning a doctor of chiropractic degree, you’ll find out there’s actually three phases of chiropractic care. The phase of care depends on the patient’s current conditions. Here are the three phases of care:#N#1. Acute care to relieve pain#N#2. Corrective care to increase or optimize physical function#N#3. Long-term wellness care that includes activities, services, and guidance.

What is the chiropractic approach?

In becoming a chiropractor, you’re choosing to look at health from a whole-person perspective. Doctors of Chiropractic focus on a drug-free approach to health care, although their patient-first approach also means they refer patients to medical doctors or other medical specialists when the patient’s condition indicates.

What is a chiropractor's physical exam?

This is typically found through the chiropractor’s comprehensive physical exam, which includes taking – and evaluating – a patient’s complete medical history. In this corrective phase of care, also known as rehabilitative care, the chiropractor is already addressing any acute care needs first.

What is phase 3 care?

Phase 3 Care: Long-term Wellness. Some people refer to the long-term wellness phase as the preventative phase of chiropractic care. As you work toward earning your chiropractic degree, you’ll discover ways to help your patients who are in the long-term wellness phase to: Boost the body’s ability to self-heal.

What is the best treatment for low back pain?

In 2017, the American College of Physicians published new guidelines advising those with acute or subacute low back pain to choose non-drug treatment options first, such as chiropractic, yoga, tai chi, and massage therapy .

What is corrective care?

You might find that your patients need corrective care that includes: Correcting hip, gait, and foot problems. improving flexibility, stability, balance, and coordination. Recovery from of work-related muscle and joint injuries. improving function from joint irritation and muscle tension.

What is the goal of a chiropractor?

As you are becoming a chiropractor, you will find that when treating patients with acute pain, your goals will be a combination of reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and restoring the normal range of motion to the affected joints.

What is chiropractic manipulation?

Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT) is a form of manual treatment to influence joint and neurophysiological function. This treatment may be accomplished using a variety of techniques. Medicare covers limited chiropractic services when performed by a chiropractor who is licensed or legally authorized to furnish chiropractic services by the State or jurisdiction in which the services are furnished (CMS Publication 100-01, Medicare General Information, Eligibility and Entitlement Manual, Chapter 5, Section 70.6). A chiropractor must also meet uniform minimum standards as set forth in the CMS Internet-Only Manual (IOM) Publication 100-1, Chapter 5, Section 70.6. This article restates language directly from the CMS Internet-Only manuals and if necessary provides clarification to educate providers on specified Medicare requirements for the diagnosis, treatment, documentation and billing of chiropractic services.

What are the five spinal regions addressed by chiropractors?

There are five spinal regions addressed: cervical region (atlanto-occipital joint), thoracic region (costovertebral/costotransverse joints), lumbar region, pelvic region (sacro-iliac joint) and sacral region (ref. CPT® Professional Edition 2017 p. 672).

What is acute subluxation?

Acute subluxation - A patient’s condition is considered acute when the patient is being treated for a new injury, identified by x-ray or physical exam as specified above. The result of chiropractic manipulation is expected to be an improvement in, or arrest of progression, of the patient’s condition.

What is maintenance therapy?

Maintenance therapy includes services that seek to prevent disease, promote health and prolong and enhance the quality of life, or maintain or prevent deterioration of a chronic condition. When further clinical improvement cannot reasonably be expected from continuous ongoing care, and the chiropractic treatment becomes supportive rather than corrective in nature, the treatment is then considered maintenance therapy. (CMS Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 240.1.3A)

What happens if you submit a claim without a diagnosis code?

A claim submitted without a valid ICD-10-CM diagnosis code will be returned to the provider as an incomplete claim under Section 1833 (e) of the Social Security Act.

Is chronic subluxation a maintenance therapy?

Once the clinical status has remained stable for a given condition, without expectation of additional objective clinical improvements, further manipulative treatment is considered maintenance therapy and is not covered. (CMS Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 240.1.3).

Does Medicare cover chiropractors?

Coverage extends only to treatment by means of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation provided such treatment is legal in the State where performed. All other services furnished or ordered by chiropractors are not covered. (CMS Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 30.5)

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