Chiropractic Services - Part B Payments for Noncovered Services

Part B pays only for a chiropractor's manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation if there is a neuro-musculoskeletal condition for which such manipulation is appropriate treatment (42 CFR § 410.21(b)). Chiropractic maintenance therapy is not considered to be medically reasonable or necessary and is therefore not payable (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services's Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Pub. No. 10002, Ch. 15, § 30.5B). Prior OIG work identified inappropriate payments for chiropractic services. Medicare will not pay for items or services that are not "reasonable and necessary" (SSA § 1862(a)(1)(A)). We will review Medicare Part B payments for chiropractic services to determine whether such payments were claimed in accordance with Medicare requirements.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
Completed	Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services	Chiropractic Services - Part B Payments for Noncovered Services	Office of Audit Services	A-04-16-07064; A-04-16-07065; W-00-16-35606; various reviews	2019