US · guidance
CMS Pub. 100-02, ch. 15, § 240.1.5
Treatment Parameters
B3-2251.5
The chiropractor should be afforded the opportunity to effect improvement or arrest or
retard deterioration in such condition within a reasonable and generally predictable
period of time. Acute subluxation (e.g., strains or sprains) problems may require as many
as three months of treatment but some require very little treatment. In the first several
days, treatment may be quite frequent but decreasing in frequency with time or as
improvement is obtained.
Chronic spinal joint condition implies, of course, the condition has existed for a longer
period of time and that, in all probability, the involved joints have already “set” and
fibrotic tissue has developed. This condition may require a longer treatment time, but not
with higher frequency.
Some chiropractors have been identified as using an “intensive care” concept of
treatment. Under this approach multiple daily visits (as many as four or five in a single
day) are given in the office or clinic and so-called room or ward fees are charged since
the patient is confined to bed usually for the day. The room or ward fees are not covered
and reimbursement under Medicare will be limited to not more than one treatment per
day.
History
(Rev. 23, Issued: 10-08-04, Effective: 10-01-04, Implementation: 10-04-04)
Provenance
- Source
- cms.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-25
- Edition
- iom-2026-08-25
- Content hash
76e9697b226cbbf75cd95fb1659a702709fe7074e21c46ae9826348326adab1a
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