Acupuncture may be paid at the chiropractor rates as a matter of law

AVA Acupuncture, P.C. v GEICO Gen. Ins. Co.
2009 NY Slip Op 51017(U)

It is amazing that Plaintiffs are still fighting what the proper reimbursement is for acupuncture services that are paid at the chiropractor rate. Some Plaintiffs are still arguing that the "geographic reasonable value" is the proper basis for no-fault compensation. Others are arguing that the defendant's claims representative needs to affirmatively state that the insurance carrier's standard practice is to pay claims at the chiropractor rate.

This case holds that reimbursement at the chiropractor rate is proper as a matter of law. Period. No strings, no streamers and no conditional statements to the contrary. From a point of practice, this case only discusses reimbursement under CPT Code 97780. Thus, a case coded with CPT Code 97780 and paid at the physician rate ($42.84) or at the chiropractor rate ($29.30), should allow the insurance carrier to prevail on motion or at trial.

Once the Appellate Term breaks down the proper amount of compensation for CPT Codes 97810, 97811, 97813 and 97814, then the paradigm will be completed.