Manipulation or chiropractic (therapeutic) manipulation, commonly referred to as spinal and extraspinal adjustment, manual adjustment, vertebral adjustment, or spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), is the treatment of the articulations of the spine and musculoskeletal structures, including the extremities, for the purpose of relieving discomfort resulting from impingement of associated nerves or other structures (e.g., joints, tissues, muscles).
Performance of these services requires the specialized knowledge, clinical judgement and skills of a qualified physical medicine provider.
Spinal manipulation by manual or mechanical means may be used to correct a structural imbalance or subluxation related to distortion or misalignment of the vertebral column.
Extraspinal manipulation, also known as extraspinal manipulative therapy (EMT), is used to treat joint dysfunction outside of the vertebral column.
Manipulation, chiropractic manipulation, and physical medicine services may be considered medically necessary when ALL of the following are met:
Manipulation, chiropractic manipulation, and physical medicine services provided exclusively for the convenience of the individual or provider, for relaxation, or for personal lifestyle enhancement are considered not medically necessary.
Manipulation, chiropractic manipulation, and physical medicine services provided for ALL of the following are considered experimental/investigational, and therefore, non-covered because the safety and/or effectiveness of this service cannot be established by the available published peer-reviewed literature:
Physical medicine modalities and procedures are considered an inherent part of manipulation and are not eligible for separate reimbursement when performed on the same body region and reported on the same day as the manipulation (examples include, but are not limited to: techniques such as soft tissue joint mobilization, massage, myofascial release, manual lymphatic drainage, and manual traction.
Unattended massages that do not require the services of a professional provider are considered non-covered.
Manipulations can be provided manually or with the assistance of various mechanical or computer operated devices. Separate reimbursement is not eligible for use of the device, or for the device itself.
Reimbursement for visits involving OMT, CMT, any of the physical medicine procedures, therapeutic procedures, muscle and ROM testing, physical tests and measurement, orthotic management, and prosthetic management is limited as follows: A maximum of four (4) codes/units in any combination per date of service, per performing provider.
Services exceeding the limitation will be considered not medically necessary.
Examples of billing for medically necessary services within a visit wherein up to four (4) codes/units are reimbursed:
Procedure codes 98925 + 97035 + 97112 + 97112
Procedure codes 98940 + 98943-59 + 97014 + 97012
Procedure codes 98926 + 97012 + 97112 + 97112
95851 |
95852 |
97012 |
97014 |
97016 |
97018 |
97022 |
97024 |
97026 |
97028 |
97032 |
97033 |
97034 |
97035 |
97036 |
97039 |
97110 |
97112 |
97113 |
97116 |
97124 |
97139 |
97140 |
97150 |
97530 |
97535 |
97542 |
97750 |
97760 |
97761 |
97763 |
98925 |
98926 |
98927 |
98928 |
98929 |
98940 |
98941 |
98942 |
98943 |
G0283 |
S8950 |
Habilitative Therapy
Habilitative therapy services are ordered by a professional provider to promote the restoration, maintenance or improvement in the level of function following disease, illness or injury. This includes therapies to achieve functions or skills never acquired due to congenital and developmental anomalies.
Habilitative therapy is not eligible for reimbursement, unless the member has a habilitative benefit.
Habilitative/Rehabilitative therapy services must be reported with the 96 or 97 modifiers in conjunction with the appropriate therapy code.
*Spinal manipulation is not considered a habilitative service.
95851 |
95852 |
97012 |
97014 |
97016 |
97018 |
97022 |
97024 |
97026 |
97028 |
97032 |
97033 |
97034 |
97035 |
97036 |
97039 |
97110 |
97112 |
97113 |
97116 |
97124 |
97139 |
97140 |
97150 |
97530 |
97535 |
97542 |
97750 |
97760 |
97761 |
97763 |
98925 |
98926 |
98927 |
98928 |
98929 |
98940 |
98941 |
98942 |
98943 |
G0283 |
S8950 |
Maintenance Services
Maintenance begins when the therapeutic goals of a treatment plan have been achieved, and no additional functional progress is apparent or expected to occur.
A maintenance program consists of activities that preserve the patient's present level of function and prevent regression of that function. These services would not involve complex physical medicine and rehabilitative procedures, nor would they require clinical judgment and skill for safety and effectiveness.
Manipulative therapy provided for maintenance rather than restoration is not eligible for reimbursement.
Physical medicine services performed repetitively to maintain a level of function are not eligible for reimbursement unless the member has habilitative services benefits.
S8990 |
|
|
|
|
|
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The following services are considered experimental/investigational and, therefore, non-covered because the safety and/or effectiveness of this service cannot be established by the available published peer-reviewed literature. This is not an all-inclusive list:
97035 |
97039 |
97139 |
97140 |
97799 |
S9090 |
|
Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services
Manipulation includes a pre-manipulation assessment. Time-based physical medicine services also include the time required to perform all aspects of the service, including pre-, intra-, and post-service work.
Therefore a separate Evaluation and Management (E/M) service must be medically necessary. A separate E/M service should not be routinely reported with manipulation or time-based physical medicine services.
This means that separate Evaluation and Management (E/M) service should only be paid in the following circumstances:
99202 |
99203 |
99204 |
99205 |
99212 |
99213 |
99214 |
99215 |
99417 |
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|
|
|
|
When massage or joint mobilization is performed on a separate body region, unrelated to the manipulation procedure, these procedures may be considered for separate payment. Modifier 59 may be reported to identify a distinct or independent service.
Report modifier 25 with the Evaluation and Management E/M service when medical care is reported for any three (3) reasons, to identify it as a separately identifiable service, in accordance with these guidelines.
Refer to Medical Policy S-197, Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA), for additional information.
Refer to Medical Policy S-240, Trigger Point Injections, for additional information.
Refer to Medical Policy V-37, Autism Spectrum Disorders, for additional information.
Refer to Medical Policy Y-1, Physical Medicine, for additional information.
Refer to Medical Policy Y-2, Occupational Therapy (OT), for additional information.
Refer to Medical Policy Y-11, Manual Lymphedema Drainage Therapy, for additional information,
Refer to Medical Policy Y-12, Urinary Incontinence Therapy, for additional information.
Refer to Medical Policy Y-21, Cognitive Rehabilitation, for additional information.
This policy is designed to address medical guidelines that are appropriate for the majority of individuals with a particular disease, illness, or condition. Each person's unique clinical or other circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records, as well as other regulatory, contractual and/or legal requirements.
Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor are they intended to govern the practice of medicine. They are intended to reflect Highmark's reimbursement and coverage guidelines. Coverage for services may vary for individual members, based on the terms of the benefit contract, and subject to the applicable laws of your state.
Highmark retains the right to review and update its medical policy guidelines at its sole discretion. These guidelines are the proprietary information of Highmark. Any sale, copying or dissemination of the medical policies is prohibited; however, limited copying of medical policies is permitted for individual use.
Discrimination is Against the Law
The Claims Administrator/Insurer complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/Insurer does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/ Insurer:
If you need these services, contact the Civil Rights Coordinator.
If you believe that the Claims Administrator/Insurer has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Civil Rights Coordinator, P.O. Box 22492, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 1-866-286-8295, TTY: 711, Fax: 412-544-2475, email: CivilRightsCoordinator@highmarkhealth.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you.
You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)
Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.
Insurance or benefit/claims administration may be provided by Highmark, Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Coverage Advantage, Highmark Health Insurance Company, First Priority Life Insurance Company, First Priority Health, Highmark Benefits Group, Highmark Select Resources, Highmark Senior Solutions Company or Highmark Senior Health Company, all of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.
Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor are they intended to govern the practice of medicine. They are intended to reflect reimbursement and coverage guidelines. Coverage for services may vary for individual members, based on the terms of the benefit contract.
Discrimination is Against the Law
The Claims Administrator/Insurer complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/Insurer does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/ Insurer:
If you believe that the Claims Administrator/Insurer has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Civil Rights Coordinator, P.O. Box 22492, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 1-866-286-8295, TTY: 711, Fax: 412-544-2475, email: CivilRightsCoordinator@highmarkhealth.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you.
You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)
Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.