ALERT: Workers Comp Fee Schedule REDUCTIONS for Chiro codes 98940-43 HELLO!!

[Guest guest]

Good afternoon, listmates

I finally got off my duff and sent a letter off to Fred Bruyns re: the proposed REDUCTION for WC reimbursement of 98940-43 codes.

These are the ONLY codes that are being reduced.

WHAT?? That's right. ALL the other WC codes reimbursements are being increased.

Hey, there! That means ONLY CHIRO DOCS are going to be paid less. That means YOU and ME, Y'all.

Not only is this obvious 'professional profiling', but if we let this slip through, I have to believe that it will set a dangerous precedent for future gouging of Chiropractors. Vern may be able to second this, but I'm sure that if 98940-43 reimbursements GO DOWN for WORK COMP cases, it will also be reduced for PI cases and others? . I don't know about you, but my practice doesn't need that kind of government abuse.

PLEASE, take a minute to write a little something. Use my letter if you want to. (Plagarism is the best form of flattery?_ Regardless, Bruyn needs to know that there is a gathering voice of alert Chiropractors who are mad as h-e-l-l and we aren't going to take it anymore. APRIL 21st is coming up--a hearing to discuss these changes. Vern needs EVERY ONE OF US to write. Even if it's 2 sentences. Get to it!

SEND AN EMAIL TODAY!!

Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Yours,

Ann DC

(Who frankly is in NO shape to be spending energy and time writing letters, but did it anyway b/c it's the right thing to do...)

Workers Comp Fee Schedule Changes

Dear Mr. Bruyns,

It has come to my attention that the Workers Compensation fee schedule is in the process of being revised. I have had a chance to review the proposed fee schedule changes. What an interesting situation I discovered:

It would appear that while all fees for service are being increased, there is one glaring and SINGULAR REDUCTION in fees that is being applied ONLY to 98940-43 Chiropractic Manipulation Therapy (CMT) codes. It is very difficult for me to fathom how you can possibly justify this obvious singling out of the one set of codes that is exclusive to the Chiropractic profession.

It is very important to remind you that Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy (CMT) codes imply a higher level of diagnostic ability and treatment/care planning, unlike the non-physician code 97140 which does not. In addition, non-physicians are allowed to use E/M 'office visit' codes along with the 97140 code. Chiropractic physicians are allowed to use E/M codes with 98940-43 CMT codes only for a new patient visit or for a re-evaluation of an existing patient. Thus, your proposed reduction of CMT reimbursement will have a unfair and significant economic affect on all Chiropractic physicians.

So what we have here are proposed fee schedule changes that increase reimbursement for non-physician procedures while at the same time they decrease reimbursement ONLY for Chiropractic procedures. This seems to me to be completely out of keeping with the “non-discrimination provision†of the recently passed national health care bill. Beyond that, it simply makes no sense, it is inappropriate and unfair, and frankly, it smacks of 'professional profiling'.

Thus I am writing to convey my disapproval of the proposed fee schedule reductions for 98940-43 and to request that they be increased in order to bring them into alignment with all of the other proposed fee schedule increases. You can expect that there will be Chiropractic representation at the upcoming April 21, 2010 hearing to discuss this very issue of unfairness and 'profiling'.

Sincerely

Dr. Ann E.

Alameda Family Chiropractic

4410 NE Fremont Street

Portland, OR 97213

503-249-0114 phone

503-249-5638 fax