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Melissa Lee: (703) 812-0259 | mlee@acatoday.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 08, 2007
CMS Finalizes Chiropractic X-Ray Reimbursement Rule
New Policy Goes Into Effect Jan. 1
Despite fervent opposition by the ACA and doctors of chiropractic nationwide, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a proposed rule that will eliminate patient reimbursement for X-rays referred by a doctor of chiropractic and ordered by a radiologist or other non-treating physician. ACA has vowed to continue to fight the new policy, which is scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2008.
“CMS put politics in front of patient care when it approved the recent changes to chiropractic X-ray reimbursement. Despite receiving hundreds of pleas in opposition, federal bureaucrats moved forward and finalized the proposed rule,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC. “Be assured that ACA will continue to fight implementation of this ill-advised decision.”
The new rule reverses a long-standing policy originally obtained by ACA and specifically eliminates Medicare patient reimbursement in connection with the referral of a beneficiary by a doctor of chiropractic to a radiologist or other non-treating physician for X-rays; however, doctors of chiropractic will still be able to refer patients back to any treating physician, such as a primary care provider, for needed X-rays.
In August, ACA submitted comments to CMS regarding this rule, specifically noting concerns that the then-proposed change could severely hamper the chiropractic profession’s ability to refer patients directly to a radiologist, placing particular emphasis on the fact that patients may be required to make additional and unnecessary visits to their primary care providers, significantly driving up the costs of patient care. ACA also orchestrated a significant grassroots campaign, which began when the proposal was first made public in July, urging the profession and Medicare patients to contact CMS and insist the agency shelve the X-ray proposal.
“While the new rule clearly is not good for patients, doctors of chiropractic remain committed to providing the safest, highest quality care for Medicare beneficiaries,” Dr. Manceaux noted.
To read ACA’s comments to CMS, click here.
For more information, contact ACA’s Office of Government Relations at (703) 812-0224 or gr@acatoday.org. |
