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Chiropractic Billing Codes A Complete Guide to CMT, ICD-10, and CPT Codes

In the field of chiropractic CPT codes can be difficult, but it’s essential to make sure right compensation and compliance within a chiropractic practice. Navigating chiropractic billing can be tricky. This guide simplifies CPT codes like 98940-98943 (CMT), ICD-10 diagnosis codes, and common therapy codes to ensure accurate claims and fewer denials.

What Are Chiropractic CMT(CPT) Codes?

CMT codes describe spinal or extra spinal adjustments:

  • 98940: Spinal, 1-2 regions
  • 98941: Spinal, 3-4 regions
  • 98942: Spinal, 5 regions
  • 98943: Extra spinal (e.g., shoulder, knee)

Example: A patient with mid-back and neck pain? Use 98941 (3-4 spinal regions).

Common Chiropractic Therapy Codes

Pair CMT with these CPT codes for comprehensive care:

  • 97110: Therapeutic exercise
  • 97112: Neuromuscular re-education
  • 97124: Therapeutic massage
  • 97014/97032: Electrical stimulation (unattended/manual)
  • 97010: Heat/cold therapy

Chiropractic ICD-10 Codes

Link billing to medical necessity with precise diagnoses:

  • M54.5: Low back pain
  • M54.2: Cervicalgia (neck pain)
  • M99.01: Segmental dysfunction (cervical)
  • S13.4: Whiplash injury

Pro Tip: Avoid generic codes like M54.9 (unspecified back pain) to reduce audit risks.

Chiropractic Billing Cheat Sheet

Save this quick reference:

Service

CPT Code

Spinal Adjustment (1-2 regions)

98940

Spinal Adjustment (3-4 regions)

98941

Therapeutic Massage

97124

Electrical Stimulation

97032

Chiropractic Billing Codes – Tips & Advice

When it comes to billing for chiropractic offerings, accuracy is fundamental. The following tips can help streamline the procedure:

  1. Stay Updated on Codes: Insurance agencies regularly update their policies and codes, so make certain you use the most up-to-date CPT codes for your claims.
  1. Use Clear Documentation: It’s important to document thoroughly for services like spinal manipulations or X-rays, especially when using complex codes such as the chiro code CPT 77073 description.
  2. Know Insurance Policies: Insurers, such as Cigna, may have specific coding requirements for payments. For instance, understanding the Cigna CPT code for chiro payment is essential to avoid claim denials.
  3. Partner with a Chiropractic Billing Company: A chiropractic billing company can help manage your claims, ensuring timely payments and reducing the chances of errors.

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5 Tips for Accurate Billing

  • Document regions treated (e.g., cervical, lumbar).
  • Link ICD-10 codes to CMT/CPT for medical necessity.
  • Avoid upcoming (e.g., billing 98942 for 3 regions).
  • Use modifiers (e.g., -AT for active treatment).
  • Stay updated on annual CPT changes

Modalities

Chiropractic care often involves modalities that require separate CPT codes, which can include:

  • 97010: Application of hot or cold packs.
  • 97035: Ultrasound therapy, used to promote healing in soft tissue injuries.
  • 97016: Vaso pneumatic devices for compression therapy.

By the usage of those chiropractic billing codes efficiently, practices can ensure they’re reimbursed for all services supplied, improving the financial health of the practice.

Conclusion

In the end, chiro CPT codes are essential for the financial success of any chiropractic practice. Whether you’re coding for evaluations, treatments, or specific procedures like CPT code for narrative report NY chiro, staying updated is crucial. By understanding and applying the correct CPT codes for chiro, partnering with a trusted chiropractic billing company, and following best practices for documentation and modifiers, your practice can optimize reimbursements and minimize claim rejections.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Chiropractors often use CPT codes 98940, 98941, and 98942 for Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment (CMT).

  • 98940: 1-2 spinal regions
  • 98941: 3-4 spinal regions
  • 98942: 5 or more regions
    These codes are key to getting paid correctly for spinal adjustments. Always choose the one that matches how many areas you worked on during the visit.

Absolutely! ICD-10 codes explain why the treatment was needed. For example, if a patient has lower back pain, you might use M54.5. These codes must match the treatment to justify medical necessity for insurance companies. Without the right ICD-10 code, even a perfect CPT code might get denied.

CMT stands for Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment it’s the hands-on spinal adjustment chiropractors provide. In billing, CMT services are represented by CPT codes based on how many spinal regions are adjusted. These are your bread-and-butter codes, so it’s important to document clearly to support them.

Yes, they can! Chiropractors may also bill for exams (99202–99204), therapies like manual therapy (97140), or even modalities like electrical stimulation (97014). Just remember that payers have strict rules some services might require modifiers or special documentation.

The most common reasons include:

  • Mismatch between CPT and ICD-10 codes
  • Lack of medical necessity
  • Missing documentation
  • No use of required modifiers (like AT for active treatment)
    Staying on top of proper coding, especially with supporting notes, helps reduce denials and boosts your cash flow.

The AT modifier tells Medicare and some payers that the treatment was active meaning it’s medically necessary, not just maintenance care. Without the AT modifier, Medicare will usually deny the claim. So, if you’re doing active treatment to correct a condition, don’t forget to add AT to your CMT codes!

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