Radiology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Chiropractor Exception Lowdown for 2008

Question: May radiologists still order x-rays for Medicare patients referred by chiropractors?Pennsylvania SubscriberAnswer: No. The 2008 Medicare fee schedule ended the "chiropractic exception" that allowed radiologists to order x-rays for chiropractic patients in the non-hospital setting (hospitals may grant radiologists ordering privileges).Background: Before Jan. 1, 2000, Medicare wouldn't reimburse chiropractic adjustments to correct subluxations without an x-ray confirming the subluxation diagnosis. Medicare doesn't allow chiropractors to order x-rays, so the "chiropractor exception" allowed radiologists to order x-rays for patients referred by chiropractors (42 CFR Ch. IV, 410.32 (a) (1)).Reason for change: In 2000, the law eliminated the spinal subluxation x-ray requirement. Fast forward eight years to the 2008 fee schedule, and Medicare finally announced that because it no longer requires x-rays, it will no longer pay "for an x-ray ordered by a nontreating physician when a chiropractor, not the ordering physician, will use that x-ray" (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/physicianfeesched/downloads/cms-1385-FC.pdf).-- The answers for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Jackie Miller, RHIA, CPC, senior consultant with Coding Strategies Inc. in Powder Springs, Ga.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles in this issue of

Radiology Coding Alert

View All