Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 I'm probably the last person to know this, but this just came over the transom from the ACA: 1. NEW ACUPUNCTURE CODES A recent Chiropractic Economics survey showed that 18 percent of doctors of chiropractic offer acupuncture services to their patients. With nearly one-fifth of our profession involved in this service, we felt it was necessary to update you on the four new acupuncture codes set to be in use Jan. 1, 2005. However, before I get to the codes themselves, I wanted to point out the ACA's efforts in getting these codes established. The ACA, being the only chiropractic organization with voting seats in the AMA CPT process, worked to not only get four new codes established which better reflect the services rendered, but also worked to establish relative values for the first time for acupuncture services. Part of this process was an exhaustive survey, which the ACA, along with two national acupuncture societies, conducted over several months. The work of the ACA's Coding and Reimbursement Committee has yielded a truly tangible result, which positively affects a great many doctors of chiropractic. As for the codes themselves, four new codes will be effective Jan. 1, 2005, and at that time, per AMA CPT, the two existing codes will be deleted. For more information, including descriptions and proper billing of these codes, please visit the following the link: http://www.acatoday.com/insurance/coding/coding_acupuncture.shtml. Avery L. Jenkins, DC, DACBN, FIAMA Chiropractic Physician Diplomate, American Clinical Board of Nutrition Fellow, International Academy of Medical Acupuncture Kent, CT www.docaltmed.com " Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece... but to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out and defiantly shouting, 'Whoo, doggie! What a ride!' " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 New Reporting Method for Acupuncture Services to Begin in January Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, there will be a new reporting method for acupuncture services. Effective on that date, CPT codes 97780 (acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation) and 97781 (acupuncture, one or more needles; with electrical stimulation) will be deleted. Four new codes have been developed for reporting acupuncture services. Like the deleted codes of 97780 and 97781, the new codes are separated into acupuncture services with and without electrical stimulation. However, in addition to these distinctions, the reporting of acupuncture services will now be reflected in 15-minute intervals, as well as a separate reporting method for the initial versus additional 15 minutes of treatment. The codes themselves are outlined as such: 97810: Acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation, initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient. 97811: Acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation, each additional 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient, with reinsertion of needle(s) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure). 97813: Acupuncture, one or more needles; with electrical stimulation, initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient. 97814: Acupuncture, one or more needles; with electrical stimulation, each additional 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient, with reinsertion of needle(s) (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure). Acupuncture is reported based on 15-minute increments of personal (face-to-face) contact with the patient, not the duration of acupuncture needle(s) placement. If no electrical stimulation is used during a 15-minute increment, use 97810, 97811. If electrical stimulation of any needle is used during a 15-minute increment, use 97813, 97814 Evaluation and management services may be reported separately, using modifier 25, if the patient's condition requires a significantly separately identifiable E/M service, above and beyond the usual pre-service and post-service work associated with acupuncture services. The time of the E/M service is not included in the time of the acupuncture service. " Dr. Avery L. Jenkins " <ajenkins wrote: I'm probably the last person to know this, but this just came over the transom from the ACA: 1. NEW ACUPUNCTURE CODES A recent Chiropractic Economics survey showed that 18 percent of doctors of chiropractic offer acupuncture services to their patients. With nearly one-fifth of our profession involved in this service, we felt it was necessary to update you on the four new acupuncture codes set to be in use Jan. 1, 2005. However, before I get to the codes themselves, I wanted to point out the ACA's efforts in getting these codes established. The ACA, being the only chiropractic organization with voting seats in the AMA CPT process, worked to not only get four new codes established which better reflect the services rendered, but also worked to establish relative values for the first time for acupuncture services. Part of this process was an exhaustive survey, which the ACA, along with two national acupuncture societies, conducted over several months. The work of the ACA's Coding and Reimbursement Committee has yielded a truly tangible result, which positively affects a great many doctors of chiropractic. As for the codes themselves, four new codes will be effective Jan. 1, 2005, and at that time, per AMA CPT, the two existing codes will be deleted. For more information, including descriptions and proper billing of these codes, please visit the following the link: http://www.acatoday.com/insurance/coding/coding_acupuncture.shtml. Avery L. Jenkins, DC, DACBN, FIAMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2004 Report Share Posted November 25, 2004 I may be jumping to conclusions regarding the new coding, but the way I read what the ACA has proposed is that acupuncture will be paid-out by the insurance companies as an adjunct therapy to chiros. Correct me if I am wrong, but I can't see how this new 15 minute interval billing is going to pay out $85 (New York average fees) when it is now just a partial therapy. L.Ac.'s either get paid-out for an office visit or for the acupuncture services, not both. So, we will be lucky to reap $15 out of this new plan. PLEASE correct my misunderstanding if this is what it is... I'd rather just take $40 cash then deal with the bureaucracy and paperwork headaches. The all-new My - Get yours free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2004 Report Share Posted November 25, 2004 ARGH! I wonder what the implications of this are going to be? I spend a minimum of 1 hour with each patient...so do I put one 97810 down and 3 97811? I wonder how they will pay accordingly? Laura Chinese Medicine , Brian Hardy <mischievous00> wrote: > > New Reporting Method for Acupuncture Services to Begin in January > > > Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, there will be a new reporting method for acupuncture services. Effective on that date, CPT codes 97780 (acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation) and 97781 (acupuncture, one or more needles; with electrical stimulation) will be deleted. > > Four new codes have been developed for reporting acupuncture services. Like the deleted codes of 97780 and 97781, the new codes are separated into acupuncture services with and without electrical stimulation. However, in addition to these distinctions, the reporting of acupuncture services will now be reflected in 15-minute intervals, as well as a separate reporting method for the initial versus additional 15 minutes of treatment. > > The codes themselves are outlined as such: > > 97810: Acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation, initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient. > > 97811: Acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation, each additional 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient, with reinsertion of needle(s) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure). > > 97813: Acupuncture, one or more needles; with electrical stimulation, initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient. > > 97814: Acupuncture, one or more needles; with electrical stimulation, each additional 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient, with reinsertion of needle(s) (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure). > > > > Acupuncture is reported based on 15-minute increments of personal (face-to-face) contact with the patient, not the duration of acupuncture needle(s) placement. > > If no electrical stimulation is used during a 15-minute increment, use 97810, 97811. If electrical stimulation of any needle is used during a 15-minute increment, use 97813, 97814 > > Evaluation and management services may be reported separately, using modifier 25, if the patient's condition requires a significantly separately identifiable E/M service, above and beyond the usual pre-service and post-service work associated with acupuncture services. The time of the E/M service is not included in the time of the acupuncture service. > > > " Dr. Avery L. Jenkins " <ajenkins@c...> wrote: > > I'm probably the last person to know this, but this just came over the transom from the ACA: > > > > 1. NEW ACUPUNCTURE CODES > A recent Chiropractic Economics survey showed that 18 percent of doctors of chiropractic offer acupuncture services to their patients. With nearly one-fifth of our profession involved in this service, we felt it was necessary to update you on the four new acupuncture codes set to be in use Jan. 1, 2005. > > However, before I get to the codes themselves, I wanted to point out the ACA's efforts in getting these codes established. The ACA, being the only chiropractic organization with voting seats in the AMA CPT process, worked to not only get four new codes established which better reflect the services rendered, but also worked to establish relative values for the first time for acupuncture services. Part of this process was an exhaustive survey, which the ACA, along with two national acupuncture societies, conducted over several months. The work of the ACA's Coding and Reimbursement Committee has yielded a truly tangible result, which positively affects a great many doctors of chiropractic. > > As for the codes themselves, four new codes will be effective Jan. 1, 2005, and at that time, per AMA CPT, the two existing codes will be deleted. For more information, including descriptions and proper billing of these codes, please visit the following the link: http://www.acatoday.com/insurance/coding/coding_acupuncture.shtml. > > Avery L. Jenkins, DC, DACBN, FIAMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2004 Report Share Posted November 25, 2004 All I can say is WOW. The intent of certain publications to in a sly way imply taking credit for something is beyond belief. CPT/AMA is the origin of the codes and the 4 codes were NOT specifically designed for Chiropractors who of course will jump on them just like the MDs. ABC Codes from Alternative Link Inc. (which by the way has somewhere between 50-80 codes for acupuncturists) is at the edge of being approved as a national standard by DHHS under HCPCS. In addition there are many major healthcare organizations such as AETNA and MITCHELL MEDICAL (oversees 85% of the PIP claims in the US) who are preparing to adopt the use of the ABC Codes. So what does CPT do? They throw out a few crumbs so everyone can fight over them in total insanity. Richard In a message dated 11/24/2004 7:24:04 PM Eastern Standard Time, mmkatin writes: I may be jumping to conclusions regarding the new coding, but the way I read what the ACA has proposed is that acupuncture will be paid-out by the insurance companies as an adjunct therapy to chiros. Correct me if I am wrong, but I can't see how this new 15 minute interval billing is going to pay out $85 (New York average fees) when it is now just a partial therapy. L.Ac.'s either get paid-out for an office visit or for the acupuncture services, not both. So, we will be lucky to reap $15 out of this new plan. PLEASE correct my misunderstanding if this is what it is... I'd rather just take $40 cash then deal with the bureaucracy and paperwork headaches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2004 Report Share Posted November 25, 2004 I think it is very, very bad news for acupuncturists. Before we were considered as independent health care providers, as different profession, and patient were referred to us as to different doctors for treatment. Now chiropractors wants to reduce the status of our profession to that of massusers, and acupuncture to the simple physical therapy open even to chiropractic offices. If before you charge the patient a least $ 40 for 20-30 m treatment now it will be only $15 or less - look at the prices for chiropractic manipulations and procedures. I think it is clear signal that not only MD but now chiropractics wants to degrade acupuncture Yuri Ovchinikov, L.Ac --- " Dr. Avery L. Jenkins " <ajenkins wrote: > > I'm probably the last person to know this, but this > just came over the transom from the ACA: > > > > 1. NEW ACUPUNCTURE CODES > A recent Chiropractic Economics survey showed that > 18 percent of doctors of chiropractic offer > acupuncture services to their patients. With nearly > one-fifth of our profession involved in this > service, we felt it was necessary to update you on > the four new acupuncture codes set to be in use Jan. > 1, 2005. > > However, before I get to the codes themselves, I > wanted to point out the ACA's efforts in getting > these codes established. The ACA, being the only > chiropractic organization with voting seats in the > AMA CPT process, worked to not only get four new > codes established which better reflect the services > rendered, but also worked to establish relative > values for the first time for acupuncture services. > Part of this process was an exhaustive survey, which > the ACA, along with two national acupuncture > societies, conducted over several months. The work > of the ACA's Coding and Reimbursement Committee has > yielded a truly tangible result, which positively > affects a great many doctors of chiropractic. > > As for the codes themselves, four new codes will be > effective Jan. 1, 2005, and at that time, per AMA > CPT, the two existing codes will be deleted. For > more information, including descriptions and proper > billing of these codes, please visit the following > the link: > http://www.acatoday.com/insurance/coding/coding_acupuncture.shtml. > > Avery L. Jenkins, DC, DACBN, FIAMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 Bravo Yuri for seeing through the scheme/scam. It is a sad day when some of our colleagues brag about being part of bringing about these new codes. Richard In a message dated 11/25/2004 5:17:18 PM Eastern Standard Time, leahhome writes: I think it is very, very bad news for acupuncturists. Before we were considered as independent health care providers, as different profession, and patient were referred to us as to different doctors for treatment. Now chiropractors wants to reduce the status of our profession to that of massusers, and acupuncture to the simple physical therapy open even to chiropractic offices. If before you charge the patient a least $ 40 for 20-30 m treatment now it will be only $15 or less - look at the prices for chiropractic manipulations and procedures. I think it is clear signal that not only MD but now chiropractics wants to degrade acupuncture Yuri Ovchinikov, L.Ac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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