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Online CEUs

Upcoming Live CE Webinar!

The Secrets of Chiro-Compliant Coding
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM MST

RSVP!
Chiropractic documentation gap analysis

Recognize what’s missing to master your reimbursement and collections!

This Documentation Gap Analysis allows us to evaluate the significant components of your current Documentation program. It should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

Take The Billing GAP Analysis
Telemedicine

Need more guided help? Work with a KMC coach 1-on-1

Sometimes you need more than a self-service, on-demand program and need an expert to analyze your issues, train the corrections, and help you implement the changes, so they stick

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Dr Alan Sokoloff 1

New Course Available!

This course explains the significant role chiropractic care can play in the sports industry and how a DC can succeed as a Sports Chiropractor. Start your steps to success here!

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OIG

There's no need to fear the OIG. We've got your back!

The most effective chiropractic OIG compliance programs are scaled according to the size of the practice!

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Chiropractic Documentation and HIPAA

Who Owns a Chiropractic Patient’s Record?

The question about who actually owns the chiropractic patient’s x-rays and patient records comes up often when a patient decides to seek care elsewhere. Some doctors think the best way to insure payment for services rendered, if the patient has a balance due, is to not release the x-ray films or patient records to another office. That choice is not the wisest course of action. You must abide by HIPAA regulations.

What Do I Have to Do with My Chiropractic Documentation to Be HIPAA Compliant?

According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the physician owns the patient’s medical record and is required to securely maintain the patient record for a set period of time. Keep in mind, there are slight variances according to state law with respect to minors, worker’s compensation, and psychiatric patient records. However, HIPAA grants five specific entitlements to the patient that relate to the information in the patient records. The right to:

  • Know how Protected Health Information (PHI) is handled in your practice
  • Request their confidential information
  • Review and/or have a copy their confidential information
  • Request inaccuracies in their record be corrected
  • Know who has accessed their medical record

The doctor is not required to release the original record; however, the patient has the right to a copy of their record. It is appropriate to charge reasonable fees to cover the cost of copying and postage if it is needed.

Back to: Chiropractic Documentation Basics

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Kathy recently gave a one hour webinar on coding and billing changes for 2023 to our membership. The feedback from attendees was extremely positive with a deep appreciation to KMCU for sharing timely, relevant and important information/changes for members to use in their practices immediately. Thank you for sharing your expertise with Vermont, KMCU!

Vermont Chiropractic Association