What chiropractic services doesn’t Medicare cover?

Medicare imposes no restrictions on the frequency of chiropractic appointments that are reimbursed, but it only indemnifies spinal adjustments deemed clinically necessary for ameliorating subluxations. It does not indemnify chiropractic care for routine wellness or prophylactic purposes, nor does it support manipulative therapies applied to body parts other than the spine.

Medicare will reimburse the expenses for a radiograph prescribed by a physician when it is imperative to confirm the presence of a spinal subluxation requiring intervention, but not for radiographs commissioned by a chiropractor. This distinction is crucial to comprehend.

Should a chiropractor prescribe, conduct, or evaluate an X-ray or any other form of diagnostic evaluation, Medicare will not extend coverage for such services.
Furthermore, Medicare does not reimburse for additional services or examinations solicited by a chiropractor, including therapeutic massage or acupuncture, with the sole exception of acupuncture as a remedy for persistent low back pain.

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