The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) advocates for the chiropractic profession not only in the halls of Congress, but also at the tables where regulatory and other issues relevant to chiropractic practice are discussed and decided. One of the most important among them is the American Medical
Association’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) coding process, where ACA representatives play key roles in helping to ensure the work of health care professionals, including chiropractors, is properly described and valued.
In addition, thanks to the volunteers on the ACA Healthcare Policy and Advocacy Committee (HPAC), this involvement in the CPT process has also resulted in numerous resources that enable ACA members to better code, document and defend their care.
ACA Represents You at the Coding ‘Table’
The chiropractic profession is currently represented in the CPT process by five ACA members. Leo Bronston, DC, MAppSc, serves on the CPT Editorial Panel, which is tasked with ensuring that CPT codes remain up to date and reflect the latest medical care provided to patients. It includes representatives of medical specialty societies, private insurance, and groups such as Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, and the American Hospital Association.
In making its decisions, the Editorial Panel relies on recommendations and information from other AMA panels such as the Relative Value Scale Update Committee Health Care Policy and Advocacy Committee (RUC HCPAC) and the CPT Health Care Policy and Advocacy Committee (CPT HCPAC). ACA has representation on both: current ACA President Kris Anderson, DC, MS, serves on the RUC HCPAC with his alternate, Cynthia Chapman, DC; and Della Schmid, DC, serves on the CPT HCPAC with her alternate, Morgan Price, DC.
Coding Resources for Members
Thanks to ACA’s inside access and participation in the code development process, doctors of chiropractic can be confident that the association’s library of coding and documentation resources are accurate and reliable.
In all, ACA members have exclusive access to more than 20 guidance documents covering topics such as acupuncture services, CMT and E&M, cervical pillows, X-rays and other imaging, dry needling, surface electromyography, use of physical medicine modalities by chiropractors, and more. See the current list below and check the ACA website for future updates.
Dr. Spaulding is vice president of health policy and education at the American Chiropractic Association.
For questions about these resources or how to access them, contact [email protected]. And look for more information in the coming weeks about the ACA’s Health Care Policy and Advocacy Committee, the members who contribute to it, and how its work and resources help chiropractors in the field succeed.
Exclusive for Members: ACA Coding Guidance
ACA members have exclusive access to the following coding resources (ACA username/password required to log into the ACA website). Visit the coding guidance page now by clicking here.
Coding for Mechanical Traction, Spinal Decompression, and Roller Tables – NEW
Guidance on Selecting Low Back Pain Diagnosis Codes – NEW
Coding for Kinesiology Tape and Its Application – NEW
Coding for Manual Therapy (97140) – NEW
Prolonged Services w/o Face-to-Face – NEW
Informational Modifiers GP, GO, GN, 96, and 97 – NEW
Flexion Distraction Technique – NEW
Coding for Hot/Cold Packs – NEW
Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment
Office or Other Outpatient Consultations
Acupuncture Services
Cervical Pillow
Coding for Dry Hydrotherapy Modality
Coding for Office or Home TENS Unit
Coding Misuse Prompts Fraud Investigations
Interpretation of X-rays and Other Imaging Studies
Combined Use of 97012, 97110, and 97010
CPT® Procedure Code 97112, Neuromuscular Reeducation
Dry Needling
Procedure Code 97124
Timed Codes: Constant Attendance Modalities and Therapeutic Procedures
Massage Chairs
