Guest guest Posted June 17, 1999 Report Share Posted June 17, 1999 In a message dated 6/17/99 5:43:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, atrumbul@... writes: << It is also clear that enrollees in Medicare HMOs continue to be cheated out of chiropractic services mandated by Congress and that HCFA's lame excuses for having been wrong have not corrected the gross injustice to the senior citizens that continue unabated. HCFA's continued inaction speaks much louder than its belated apology.'' >> I am not so sure on how such an aggressive tone works when trying to work with HCFA Steve Marcum PT Director of Rehabilitation Services Pattie A. Clay Hospital ------------------------------------------------------------------------ eGroups.com home: /group/ptmanager - Simplifying group communications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 1999 Report Share Posted June 17, 1999 Thursday June 17, 11:16 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: American Chiropractic Association HCFA Policy Reversal Prohibits Physical Therapists From Performing Spinal Manipulation to Correct a Subluxation ARLINGTON, Va., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- In a June 14 meeting with the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (PPAC), the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) reversed its policy extending back to the early 1980s allowing physical therapists to perform manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation as a Medicare service. A representative of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) attending the meeting commended HCFA for recognizing the need to make this reversal. This reversal is a direct result of the ACA lawsuit against HCFA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on this policy and others. According to ``Count Two'' of the ACA's Amended Complaint filed on May 18, ``a physical therapist is not a 'physician' pursuant, (to the Medicare statute)'' and ``manual manipulation of the spine by a physical therapist is not a Medicare covered service and may not be substituted by a Medicare HMO, Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) or Medicare+Choice organization for manual manipulation to correct a subluxation performed by a chiropractor.'' During the PPAC meeting, Gustafson, Director of HCFA's Plan and Provider Purchasing Policy Group, responded to a question posed by Dr. Jerilynn Kaibel, PPAC member and a chiropractor. ``There has been some confusion about the ability of physical therapists to be paid for delivering this service under Medicare. And I believe at one time, our interpretation was that it was ok,'' stated Gustafson. ``We have come to a more mature understanding of what the statute in fact provides, and physical therapists are not permitted to bill Medicare for this service. If we have not already made this clear to managed care plans, we will be doing so in the Operational Policy Letter (OPL) this fall,'' concluded Gustafson. ``The first victory in our lawsuit against HCFA was receiving the report that Congress ordered HCFA to submit nine years ago. This reversal by HCFA is victory number two,'' said ACA President, Dr. Pedigo. If followed up by directives with teeth in them, and sanctions for disregard of the directives, more HMOs may start recognizing their legal obligations to provide chiropractic services by chiropractors at meaningful levels to senior citizens.`` ``With these two victories, we've won half the battle,'' said ACA General Counsel and lead attorney in the lawsuit against HCFA, Mcs. ``While we are pleased with this development, HCFA still maintains the position that medical doctors and osteopaths can perform manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation when only chiropractors are qualified to do so. Just as importantly, HCFA policy continues to permit medical doctors in HMOs to determine the medical necessity of chiropractic care. We must continue with our lawsuit until these policies are changed. It is also clear that enrollees in Medicare HMOs continue to be cheated out of chiropractic services mandated by Congress and that HCFA's lame excuses for having been wrong have not corrected the gross injustice to the senior citizens that continue unabated. HCFA's continued inaction speaks much louder than its belated apology.'' SOURCE: American Chiropractic Association Allan B. Trumbull, Director P.T. Mount Clemens General Hospital Mt. Clemens, MI 48043 atrumbul@... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ eGroups.com home: /group/ptmanager - Simplifying group communications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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