Clarification: Coverage for physical therapy procedure codes when supervised by a chiropractor

In the August 2015 Record, we published an article announcing that additional physical therapy procedure codes are payable to chiropractors. The article also should have stated that for Michigan Education Special Services Association members, additional physical therapy procedure codes are payable when supervised by a chiropractor.

This means that chiropractors can delegate physical medicine services, including massage therapy, to another person. The chiropractor isn't required to provide them directly.

A member doesn’t need a prescription to receive covered physical medicine services from a chiropractor. But for these services to be reimbursed, the chiropractor must develop a physical medicine treatment plan after the member’s first physical medicine service.

The only exception to this requirement is for mechanical traction (procedure code *97012), which may be performed at subsequent visits without a physical medicine treatment plan. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan maintains the current payment structure for these treatments.

Keep in mind that no physician agreement or signature is required on a treatment plan for MESSA members.

Check the billing chart under Updates to Payable Procedures in the August 2015 Record for a list of procedure codes that were newly reimbursable to chiropractors.