Chiropractic warning signs are indicators that a chiropractor, a healthcare professional, may put patients at risk of damage or injury to the spine. An example is to separate an exam from the treatment performed on the same day with the -25 modifier. The modifier indicates to the payer that the exam was performed beyond the normal evaluation included in the treatment codes. Proactive claims processors can analyze records related to chiropractic care, identify warning signs and take action before this treatment modality is out of control.
One of the most common warning signs of chiropractors is when a back specialist tells you that you can fix your problems in a single session. Proper documentation and specifically designed billing software can help chiropractors prevent red flags in chiropractic billing. The role of physical therapists in identifying warning signs has changed as physical therapists increasingly become a patient's first point of contact with a healthcare professional. However, if a chiropractor repeatedly tries to get you to schedule a follow-up appointment, consider it a warning sign.
Chiropractors should be aware of red flags in coding and billing to avoid being audited and having to reimburse improperly billed services. Another warning sign to look for when looking for chiropractors is if the clinic's website doesn't mention chiropractic accreditations or certificates. It is difficult to get an exact idea of the epidemiology of warning signs, since it depends to a large extent on the level of documentation of doctors.
