July 2007

CMS proposes to eliminate some x-ray reimbursements

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to eliminate reimbursements to patients for x-rays taken by an MD or DO and used by a chiropractor to determine a subluxation.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is prepared to fight this change and is urging all chiropractors to submit comments on the proposed regulation. Comments must be received by Aug. 31.

In 2000, the requirement for x-rays to justify spinal manipulation to remove subluxation was eliminated. However, x-rays remained a covered service if ordered by an MD or DO and the x-ray service is still recognized as an option to identify the subluxation.

According to the ACA, by limiting chiropractors from referring to an x-ray study, the costs for patient care will go up significantly, because of the necessity to refer patients to another provider for duplicative evaluation prior to referral to a radiologist.

CMS argues, in the Federal Register, that “the chiropractic exception is no longer warranted. We do not believe it would be necessary or appropriate to continue to permit payment for an x-ray ordered by a nontreating physician when a chiropractor, not the ordering physician, will use that x-ray.”

Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted electronically at www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/ohrms/index.cfm. To submit comments, says ACA, refer to file code CMS-1385-P and include the caption “technical corrections” at the beginning of the comments.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.com; Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 133, July 12, 2007.

Industry News from:
Chiropractic News from: