ROAD TO PRACTICE:

Georgia

1. Join State Association

Georgia Chiropractic Association

Web page link

https://www.gachiro.org/

Membership Fees

Rates including student and new-graduate options

Member benefits

Health Insurance discounts
Compliance tools
X-ray certification for CAs
Legislative support

2. License Requirements

Website to apply for license: https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-chiropractor#How%20To%20Apply

License fee: $200
- Application fee: $75

Jurisprudence exam open book. https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/12%20Form%20-%20Georgia%20Jurisprudence%20Examination.pdf
Fingerprinting and background check NOT required

NBCE Requirements:

Parts I*, II*, III* and IV*: Required – PASSING SCORE IS 375

NBCE Acupuncture NOT accepted.

NBCE PT NOT accepted.

NBCE SPEC required for license by reciprocity options.

STATE SCOPE OF PRACTICE:

Contact State for precise definition by state law.

Scope: (See O.C.G.A. §43-9-16 for the definition in Georgia law. The law can be found at www.sos.ga.gov/plb/chiro) The term chiropractic as used in the chapter of the Georgia Law means the adjustment of the articulation of the human body, including ilium, sacrum and coccyx, and in the use of electric, X-ray photography for diagnostic purposes. Doctors of Chiropractic shall have the right to adjust patients according to specific chiropractic methods and shall observe public health regulations, sign health certificates, reporting to the proper health officers the same as other practitioners. Doctors of Chiropractic shall not prescribe or administer medicine to patients, perform surgery, nor practice obstetrics or osteopathy

Synopsis taken from FCLB.org

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

20 hours per year (10 may be distance learning)
Breakdown: 15 hours clinical sciences, 4 hours risk management or ethics
Accepts PACE

3. Getting Your NPI Number

(New Practioner Identification) Number

Step by step instructions

https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/apply_npi_instructions.pdf

4. Obtaining an EIN

(Employer Identification Number)

Step by step instructions

https://sa.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp

Note: This is your tax ID number as a practitioner

TYPE OF BUSINESS BREAKDOWN

Business Structure	Ownership	Liability	Taxes
Sole Proprietorship	One person	Unlimited personal liability	Personal tax only
Partnership	Two or more persons	Unlimited personal liability unless structured as a limited partnership	Self-employment tax (except for limited partnership), Personal tax
Limited Liability Company (LLC)	Two or more persons	Owners are not personally liable	Self-employment tax, Personal tax or Corporate tax
Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)	Two or more persons	Owners are not personally liable	Self-employment tax, Personal tax or Corporate tax
Corporation – C Corp	One or more persons	Owners are not personally liable	Corporate tax
Corporation – S Corp	One or more persons, but no more than 100 and all must be US citizens	Owners are not personally liable	Personal tax
Corporation – B Corp	One or more persons	Owners are not personally liable	Corporate tax
Corporation – Nonprofit	One or more persons	Owners are not personally liable	Tax-exempt, but corporate can’t be distributed

Note: The difference between an LLC and a PLLC is that all members of PLLC are required to be designated professionals.

What is an Associate?

An associate receives pay from the office by which they are employed. If you are an associate who will be dealing with vendors for selling goods, you should consider getting an EIN.

What is an independent Contractor?

An independent contractor receives pay from their patients and insurance companies directly. If you are an independent contractor, you need an EIN.

5. Obtaining Malpractice Insurance

Malpractice Insurance Providers

Note: This list may not be a fully comprehensive list of ALL Malpractice Insurance providers. Be sure to check if the provider you choose is licensed to cover you in your state.

NCMIC – https://www.ncmic.com/malpractice-insurance/how-to-apply-online/
OUM – https://www.oumchiropractor.com/quote/apply
ChiroSecure – https://www.chirosecure.com
PRI – https://www.pri.com/who-we-serve/chiropractors
General Liability Insurance – https://generalliabilityinsure.com/small-business/chiropractic-insurance.html
ChiroFuture – https://chirofutures.org/online-quote/
SDN Insurance – http://sdnins.com/chiropractor.html
CoverMD – http://www.covermd.com/chiropractor-malpractice-insurance.aspx
Insureon – https://alliedhealth.insureon.com/resources/cost/chiropractic
MBS Insurance Services – https://www.mbsinsure.com/solutions/malpractice-insurance/
USA Business Insurance – https://www.businessinsuranceusa.com/chiropractor-professional-liability-insurance
CM&F – https://www.cmfgroup.com/professional-liability-insurance/chiropractic-assistant-insurance/
MACARIO Insurance Group – https://www.macarioinsurance.com/who-we-cover/all-classes-of-business/
Chiroprefered – https://chiropreferred.com/find-the-right-coverage

What To Consider When Selecting A Plan

Claims Made

A policy providing coverage that is triggered when a claim is made against the insured during the policy period, regardless of when the wrongful act that gave rise to the claim took place. (The one exception is when a retroactive date is applicable to a claims-made policy.)

Occurrence

An occurrence policy covers claims resulting from an injury or another event that occurs during the policy term. Coverage depends on the timing of the event. A claims-made policy covers claims that are made during the policy period.

Tail Coverage

An addition to a claims-made policy. It extends coverage for incidents that happened during the time you had your policy, but a claim was not filed until after your policy expired or was canceled. Tail coverage is another name for an extended reporting period.

Note: $1 Million/$3 Million is the minimum plan required in order to participate with some Insurance Companies.

6. Participating with Insurance Providers

Note: Before starting a practice in an area, check to see whether the Insurance Companies are accepting new providers.

Credentialing

As of this writing, most private insurance companies rely on the Council for Affordable Quality Health Care (CAQH) to verify your credentials. You will also need CAQH credentialing for some of the government supplemented participations as well. Others will use Availity for your credentialing, however as of this writing that is becoming less common. Keep in mind, you only need one account on either of these, and then will give permissions to each insurance company you are working to participate with to access your information and to be verified as a provider.

- Availity: https://www.availity.com/essentials

CAQH: information needed can be filled out here: https://proview.caqh.org/Login/

The following is a quick step by step of what things you should select as a chiropractor and documents/information you may need.

NUCC Grouping: Chiropractic Providers
Provider type: Doctor of Chiropractic
Select your state
Social security number
Demographics and contact information
License number(s) and state(s)
Educational information (about your chiropractic school and degree)
Board certified: No (chiropractors are not board certified, and do not need to be)
You may select directory listings and other searchable tags
Practice location(s), including TIN
You may add credentialing contact information if you are using a third party, but if you are doing this yourself you may skip this section.
Malpractice insurance information: company, expiration dates, and policy numbers.
10 year work history, dates, addresses, etc.
Professional disclosures
Documents to upload:
1. Standard authorization release; updated every 120 days
2. Professional liability insurance verification (proof of insurance)
3. State license (copy)
4. W9