Can an MD hire a chiropractor to do his PT?

[Guest guest]

I'm confused about the Stark law.

Can a surgeon use a chiropractor in his office to do all his physical

therapy? Would Medicare approve? Can a chiropractor bill PT codes?

Mt. Eden PT

[Guest guest]

My understanding is that if a chiropractor bills codes that his/her

professional license allows him/her to bill, it must be billed under his/her

number

in spite of him or her working under the MD's license.

Bill Ranieri

In a message dated 7/19/2007 7:33:37 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

mt_eden_pt@... writes:

I'm confused about the Stark law.

Can a surgeon use a chiropractor in his office to do all his physical

therapy? Would Medicare approve? Can a chiropractor bill PT codes?

Mt. Eden PT

Bill Ranieri

Health Management, LLC

2129 W New Haven Ave.

West Melbourne, FL 32904

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[Guest guest]

Yes. I have heard an MD openly brag to me that he can hire a DC to do PT

modalities and bill for it too. The loophole is that they are both " doctors "

so the kickback rule does not apply. Maybe, I am wrong, however, in CA any

arrangements between a PT and an MD for physical therapy treatments are

illegal. PT codes are physical medicine codes so they are ok to be abused by

anyone! Maybe someone else might have a better answer.

Hiten Dave' PT

Can an MD hire a chiropractor to do his PT?

I'm confused about the Stark law.

Can a surgeon use a chiropractor in his office to do all his physical

therapy? Would Medicare approve? Can a chiropractor bill PT codes?

Mt. Eden PT

[Guest guest]

Depends, the state practice act dictates the use of the words " Physical

Therapy "

Physical Therapists only " own " the eval , re-eval codes. Medicare will

not reimburse for those unless done by a PT

Anyone can use the other codes and as long as he/she/it does not call it

physical therapy, there is not much that can be done. Contact your

state board for clarification; it does vary from state to state

Ron Barbato PT

Administrative Director, Rehabilitation Services

Ephraim McDowell Health

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rbarbato@...

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Can an MD hire a chiropractor to do his PT?

I'm confused about the Stark law.

Can a surgeon use a chiropractor in his office to do all his physical

therapy? Would Medicare approve? Can a chiropractor bill PT codes?

Mt. Eden PT

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[Guest guest]

Technically, the D.C. cannot bill as a PT. Medicare does not, to my

knowledge approve of chiropractors as pradticing as PTs.

This would fall under fraudulent billing practices.

Lane Blondheim,PT, MT

Active Health and Rehab

Montgomery, AL

>

> I'm confused about the Stark law.

>

> Can a surgeon use a chiropractor in his office to do all his physical

> therapy? Would Medicare approve? Can a chiropractor bill PT codes?

>

>

> Mt. Eden PT

>

[Guest guest]

A chiro can (and does) bill the same codes as PT's. In my state, they can't

call themselves PT's nor perform physical therapy; however, they can provide

therex, ultrasound, manual therapy, etc. You'd have to check into state

practice acts to fully answer this question. If MD's hire PT's (ugh!), it

seems logical that they can hire chiro's as well.

MICHAEL D. RABIN, M.A., MSPT

New Jersey

[Guest guest]

Perhaps he can, that would depend on your Physical Therapy statutes and how

it governs who practices PT, and the definition of a Physical Therapist. The

CPT codes are not PT codes but are used across the spectrum of providers. I

would think it might be a good idea to review your practice act. If you

think that there is abuse then contact your PT board and have them investigate

the suspected practice. That way you are protecting the public and perhaps

nipping an illegal setup and get rid of two crooks.

A. Towne

West Chester, Oh

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[Guest guest]

The general principle of law, at least in NYS, is that you can hire another

professional if their whole practice is within your scope of practice.

Therefore PTs could hire massage therapists.

The question becomes -- is Physical Therapy within the scope of the practice

of medicine? Historically the answer has been yes. The caveate may be in

the profession of PT rising to the level of DPT. There is no precedence in

law in which it has been interpeted that a profession at the clinical doctorate

level is entirely within the scope of another practice. For example,

treatment of the head, mouth and teeth may be considered within the scope of

practice of medicine but a physician could not hire a dentist or perform

dentistry.

I would question if chiropractics, which is at the clinical doctorate level,

is within the scope of practice of medicine. I would think that the NY

State Education Department would not allow the practice to occur.

The question of whether chiro's can bill for PT is moot, again, at least in

NYS. Chiros cannot under any circumstances portray themself as offering PT

services. Physical Therapy in NYS is a protected term in our practice act.

To represent yourself in advertising or through billing as a physical

therapist, if you are not licensed as a physical therapist, is illegal.

J VanBeveren PT, DPT, MA, OCS, GCS, CSCS

Legislative Chair, NYPTA

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