Diversified Chiropractic Adjustive Techniques: Can chiropractors no longer bill massages that manipulate the spine?
In the April 2004 (043004) website posting of Part B Medical Review Frequently Asked Questions, the following statement was included under question #6: Furthermore, massages (including hydromassages) or any other “diversified adjustive technique” do not meet the definition of manual manipulation and should not be billed using CPT codes 98940-98943. To clarify, coverage of chiropractor services 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. In addition, in performing manual manipulation of the spine, some chiropractors use manual devices that are hand-held with the thrust of the force of the device being controlled manually. While such manual manipulation may be covered, there is no separate payment permitted for use of this device. All other services ordered or furnished by chiropractors (e.g. massages that do not manipulate a spinal subluxation) are not covered. See CMS Publ
