Effective January 1, 1999, doctors of chiropractic must use the new "GX" modifier when billing the chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT) codes 98940-98942, and a patient refuses to have an x-ray, according to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).
The GX modifier will signal HCFA that the service is not covered by Medicare and the claim will be denied as a technical denial. HCFA also reports that the new modifier will provide clearer information for secondary payers. When the GX modifier is used with one of the CMT codes, the beneficiary is liable for payment and the chiropractor may bill the patient directly for the manipulation service.
Bert Hanicke, DC, a professor of chiropractic science at Logan College of Chiropractic, was honored with the "1998 Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching." The award was presented by Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan during the governor's conference on higher education in Jefferson City this past December.
Logan President Dr. George Goodman praised Dr. Hanicke at the awards reception: "We're very proud and grateful to have Dr. Hanicke as a member of the Logan College faculty. His outstanding level of knowledge has been an inspiration to three generations of Logan students."
A 1950 graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic, Dr. Hanicke has served as a member of Logan's faculty since 1956. He teaches applied kinesiology and acupuncture at Logan.
Dr. Reggie Gold has named Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic the primary beneficiary and executor of his estate, estimated to be more than six million dollars. The money will go into Sherman's endowment trust to provide financial backing and ensure the college's growth.
"Sherman College is my chiropractic home because it teaches and espouses the ideals that I live by," explained Dr. Gold.
Dr. Gold graduated from Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1957. He settled in Spring Valley, New York and began teaching at the Columbia Institute of Chiropractic. When Sherman College was established by Dr. Thom Gelardi in 1973, Dr. Gold joined several other chiropractors in moving to South Carolina to work with Dr. Gelardi.
"Reggie has made countless sacrifices for chiropractic and has always supported Sherman College," said Dr. David Koch, the school's president. "This latest act will ultimately enhance the lives of all who become a part of the Sherman College family.
"Reggie's life speaks for itself," added Dr. Koch. "This estate commitment will create a chiropractic legacy to a life spent in devotion to the chiropractic principle."
While visiting Bologna, Italy as part of a 20th anniversary trip to Europe from their Saint Louis, Missouri home, Jeffrey Citrin, DC, and his wife encountered a medical doctor with a manual manipulation practice.
Dr. Citrin noted that the doctor from Bologna doesn't know about Activator, but does use hammers and mallets to deliver an adjustment. Dr. Citrin called the devices "interesting."
Andrew Weil, MD, one of the biggest proponents of the alternative care movement, was honored by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy last month with an honorary doctorate.
At the same time, the college announced plans to open the Center for Integrative Therapies in Pharmaceutical Care, becoming the first college of pharmacy in the nation to do so. The center will evaluate alternative therapies and test herbal remedies for their effectiveness against certain ailments.
Weil, 56, maintains one of the most popular health-related websites in the United States (www.askdrweil.com). In 1997, he was named one of the 25 most influential people of the year by Time magazine.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
