(2023) Aetna Reimbursement For Chiropractic Services
Aetna considers chiropractic services medically necessary when all of the following criteria are met:
- The member has a neuromusculoskeletal disorder; and
- The medical necessity for treatment is documented; and
- Improvement is documented within the initial two weeks of chiropractic care.
If no improvement is documented within the initial two weeks, additional chiropractic treatment is considered not medically necessary unless the chiropractic treatment is modified.
If no improvement is documented within 30 days despite modification of chiropractic treatment, continued chiropractic treatment is considered not medically necessary.
Once the maximum therapeutic benefit has been achieved, continuing chiropractic care is considered not medically necessary.
Chiropractic manipulation in asymptomatic persons or persons without an identifiable clinical condition is considered not medically necessary.
Chiropractic care in persons, whose condition is neither regressing nor improving is considered not medically necessary.
Manipulation is considered experimental and investigational when rendered for non-neuromusculoskeletal conditions (e.g., attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, dysmenorrhea, and epilepsy; not an all-inclusive list) because its effectiveness for these indications is unproven.
Manipulation of infants is considered experimental and investigational for non-neuromusculoskeletal indications.
Chiropractic manipulation has no proven value for the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis or the treatment of scoliosis beyond early adolescence unless the member is exhibiting pain or spasm or some other medically necessary indications for chiropractic manipulation are present.
Reference: http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/100_199/0107.html
Please note: Some plans have limitations or exclusions applicable to chiropractic care. Please check the benefit plan descriptions for details.
Also check the list of all CPT / HCPCS codes to report Chiropractic services
