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Don't miss the July 2023 edition!

We know you count on us to keep you up to date with the most important information in the profession. We have compiled updates, blogs, and news for you into this convenient digital publication.

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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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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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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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Don’t Forget to Do Your PART for Medicare

Don’t Forget to Do Your PART for Medicare

For any claim that requires proof of medical necessity, the primary diagnosis has to be subluxation. Applying the PART process, in the absence of an x-ray, can help you determine whether the diagnosis is truly Subluxation. PART is an acronym for Pain, Asymmetry, Range, and Tissue; each is described below:

P

Pain and Tenderness

Identify using one or more of the following:
Observation Observe the pain the patient exhibits during the course of the examination. Document the location, quality, and severity of the pain.
Percussion, Palpation, or Provocation During the exam, ask the patient if pain is reproduced (e.g., “Let me know if any of this causes discomfort.”).
Visual Analog Scale Ask the patient to grade the pain from 0-10 on a visual analog scale.
Audio Confirmation Ask the patient to verbally grade the pain from 0-10.
Pain Questionnaires Use patient questionnaires, such as the McGill pain questionnaire or an in-office patient history form, for the patient to describe his/her pain.

 

A

Asymmetry/Misalignment

Identify on a sectional or segmental level by using one or more of the following:
Observation Observe patient posture and/or analyze gait.
Motion Palpation Describe the misaligned spinal vertebrae and asymmetry.
Diagnostic Imaging Use X-ray, CAT scan, and MRI to identify misalignments.

 

R

Range of Motion Abnormality

Identify an increase or decrease in segmental mobility using one or more of the following:
Observation Observe an increase or decrease in the patient’s range of motion.
Percussion, Palpation, or Provocation Record palpation findings—include listing(s). Be sure to record the various areas involved and related to the regions manipulated.
Stress Diagnostic Imaging X-ray the patient using bending views.
Range of Motion Measuring Devices Devices such as goniometers or inclinometers can be used to record specific measurements.

 

T

Tissue, Tone Changes

Identify using one or more of the following:
Observation Observe visible changes (e.g., signs of spasm, inflammation, swelling, rigidity, etc.).
Palpation Palpated changes in the tissue, such as hypertonicity, hypotonicity, spasm, inflammation, tautness, rigidity, flaccidity, etc. can be found on palpation.
Use of instrumentation Document the instrument used and findings.
Tests for Length and Strength Document leg length, scoliosis contracture, and strength of muscles that relate.

 

If PART is demonstrated, and the patient has a documented loss of function, there is usually medical necessity. But what if you find that your patient has entered a maintenance stage of care? Help them understand that Medicare expects them to cover the cost of that care. Check out the “Proper Scripting for the Medicare Maintenance Patient“.

 

Active vs Maintenance Treatment in Chiropractic

 

Chiropractic Medicare Documentation Requirements

 

Medicare Maintenance Care - What to Say to the Patient
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...Not only is the Library impressive, but our one-on-one coaching with our Subject Matter Expert, Jill, was what really got us through this process. Jill got us set up with a portal to organize our work and keep us on task, coached us via phone call to discover any risks and resolve them, and continued to meet with us until all our assignments were completed. We still have some things to finish up throughout the remainder of the year, but Jill expertly trained us so that we can stand on our own from here and complete the process ourselves. To me, the ability to feel confident enough in this process to continue on my own is the most valuable thing, and Jill and KMC have provided us with that ability...

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