CPT Code Description
98940 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); spinal, 1-2 regions
98941 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); spinal, 3-4 regions
98942 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); spinal, 5 regions
98943 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); extraspinal, 1 or more regions (Not Covered)
INTRODUCTION TO CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES
A chiropractor must be licensed or legally authorized to furnish chiropractic services by the state or jurisdiction in which the services are furnished. In addition, a licensed chiropractor must meet uniform minimum standards to be considered a physician for Medicare coverage. 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.
If a chiropractor orders, takes or interprets an X-ray or other diagnostic procedure to demonstrate a subluxation of the spine, the X-ray can be used for documentation. However, there is no coverage or payment for these services or for any other diagnostic or therapeutic service ordered or furnished by the chiropractor.
Chiropractic service, which is eligible for reimbursement, is specifically limited by Medicare to the treatment by means of manual manipulation (i.e., by use of the hands or use of manual devices that are hand-held, with the thrust of the force of the device being controlled manually) of the spine for the purpose of correcting a subluxation. Other services such as lab tests, X-rays, nutritional supplements, modalities, traction, office visits, examinations, supports, etc., are services that Medicare will not consider for payment when performed by a chiropractor.
Payment is based on the physician fee schedule. The fee schedule can be found online at:
http://www.trailblazerhealth.com/Payment/Fee Schedules/Default.aspx
HCPCS CODES
98940© Chiropractic manipulation
98941© Chiropractic manipulation
98942© Chiropractic manipulation
98943© Chiropractic manipulation
Note: CPT code 98943©, CMT, extraspinal, one or more regions, is not a Medicare benefit.
98940 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); spinal, one to two regions
Documentation must include a validated diagnosis for one or two spinal regions and support that manipulative treatment occurred in one to two regions of the spine (region as defined by CPT).
98941 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); spinal, three to four regions
Documentation must support that manipulative treatment occurred in three to four regions of the spine (region as defined by CPT) and one of the following:
1. validated diagnoses for three or four spinal regions
2. validated diagnoses for two spinal regions, plus one or two adjacent spinal regions with documented soft tissue and segmental findings
98942 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); spinal, five regions
Documentation must support that manipulative treatment occurred in five regions of the spine (region as defined by CPT) and one of the following:
1. validated diagnoses for five spinal regions
2. validated diagnoses for three spinal regions, plus two adjacent spinal regions with documented soft tissue and segmental findings
3. validated diagnoses for four spinal regions, plus one adjacent spinal region with documented soft tissue and segmental findings
98943 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); extraspinal, one to five regions
Documentation must support that manipulative treatment occurred in one or more extraspinal regions (as defined by CPT), and there is a validated diagnosis for one or more extraspinal regions for which manipulation has been shown to be both safe and efficacious per appropriate Optum medical policy.
Billing and Coding Guidelines
The chiropractic manipulative treatment codes include a pre-manipulation patient assessment. Additional E&M services may be reported separately using modifier “25,” if the patient’s condition requires a significant separately identifiable E&M service, above and beyond the usual pre-service and postservice work associated with the procedure. For purposes of CMT, the five spinal regions referred to are:
• Cervical region (includes atlanto-occipital joint);
• Thoracic region (includes costovertebral and costotransverse joints);
• Lumbar region;
• Sacral region; and
• Pelvic (sacroiliac joint) region.
Extraspinal Manipulation + Spinal Manipulation
Modifier -51 (Multiple Procedures) is not required to be appended to the extraspinal CMT procedural code (98943), when billed on the same date of service as a spinal CMT code (98940-98942).
CPT describes the application of modifier -25 when E/M services are reported in conjunction with CMT procedural codes (98940- 98943), “The chiropractic manipulative treatment codes include a pre-manipulation patient assessment. Additional Evaluation and Management services may be reported separately using the modifier -25, if the patient’s condition requires a significant separately identifiable E/M service, above and beyond the usual preservice and postservice work associated with the procedure.”
Modifier -51 (Multiple Procedures) does not need to be appended to the extraspinal CMT code (98943), when billed in conjunction with chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT) codes (98940- 98943). According to “The CPT® Assistant” [December 2013], these are separate and distinct procedures and the use of modifier 51 does not apply.
• Payment for manual manipulation of the spine is limited to one manipulation per day and may not exceed 12 manipulations per calendar year. Effective for dates of service on or after January 1, 2005, North Dakota Medicaid will allow reimbursement to chiropractors for Evaluation and Management (E/M)office and other outpatient Services – New Patient (99201-99203). These E/M services may be billed in addition to the chiropractic manipulative treatment (98940-98942) ONLY when the patient has not received any professional (face-to-face) services from the chiropractor, or another chiropractor of the same group practice, within the past three years.
• Payment for x-rays may not exceed two (2) per year and are limited to radiological examinations of the full spine; the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and lumbosacral areas of the spine.
• Chiropractic services are billed on paper using the CMS-1500 form, or electronically using the standard 837-P HIPAA transaction.
If a chiropractor reports both a CPT 98940-series service and CPT 97140 on the same date of service, the chiropractor’s medical records must document the differences between the two procedures and that each was conducted on a different anatomical site. To document this, you may use Modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) when billing for these procedures (i.e., CPT 97140-59).
Codes for spinal manipulations (98940 – 98942) are specific to the number of regions treated. If only two regions are treated, 98940 should be used instead of 98941–52
Evaluation & Management and CMT (CPT® codes 99201–99215 with 98940–98943)
E&M is necessary when performing the initial exam. An E&M service may once again be necessary if there is a change in condition or treatment protocol.
It is not appropriate to bill for routine scheduled E&M service (every 12 days of treatment).
Use modifier 25 to identify the E&M service separately when performed with CMT.
Documentation must be complete as to the level of E&M services provided according to CPT® guidelines.
CMT codes include a pre-manipulation patient assessment component for each visit, which must be supported by appropriate documentation. Therefore, it is not appropriate to bill an E&M service with each CMT service. If billed inappropriately, the E&M service will be denied as provider liable.
It is appropriate to bill for the CMT and E&M service if one of the following has occurred:
• A new patient visit
• An established patient visit. The established patient must have a new condition, new injury, aggravation, or exacerbation which warrants further examination above and beyond what is included in CMT services.
• Periodic re-evaluation to determine if a change in the treatment plan is necessary
Chiropractic Services and Modifier 51
Moda Health does not apply multiple procedure fee reductions to Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) procedures or Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment (CMT) procedures. Despite the AMA modifier definition and ChiroCode guidelines indicating to use modifier 51 with chiropractic services, Moda Health follows CMS guidelines as described above. OMT and CMT procedure codes have a multiple procedure indicator of “0” and modifier 51 should not be used in combination with these procedure codes. Moda Health will deny 98925 – 98929 and 98940 – 98943 for invalid modifier to procedure combination when billed with modifier 51
