Web page link

https://vtchiro.org

Membership Fees

Discounted rates for part-time and out of state or non-practicing licensees.

Member benefits

• Directory listing
• Reduced tuition for CEs
• Webinars, CEUs, journal access
• Insurance liaison and regular updates
• Partner vender discounts

Website to apply for license: 

• Managed through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulations 
• Application instructions: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/professions/chiropractic/chiropractic_application_instructions.pdf
• No fingerprinting or background check
• Requires a Bachelor’s degree before DC

NBCE Requirements:

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

STATE-SPECIFIC EXAMS:

Jurisprudence exam online after license is issues.

STATE SCOPE OF PRACTICE:

Contact State for precise definition by state law.

The practice of chiropractic means the diagnosis of human ailments and diseases related to subluxations, joint dysfunctions, neuro- muscular and skeletal disorders for the purpose of their detection, correction or referral in order to restore and maintain health, without providing drugs or performing surgery; the use of physical and clinical examinations, conventional radiologic procedures and interpretation, as well as the use of diagnostic imaging read and interpreted by a person so licensed and clinical laboratory procedures to determine the propriety of a regimen of chiropractic care; adjunctive therapies approved by the board, by rule, to be used in conjunction with chiropractic treatment; and treatment by adjustment or manipulation of the spine or other joints and connected neuromusculoskeletal tissues and bodily articulations.

“Adjunctive therapies” means to treat the human body by manual, mechanical, electrical, or natural methods, or by the use of physical means which include light, heat, water, or exercise in preparation for a chiropractic adjustment or manipulation.

Synopsis taken from FCLB.org

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

• Biennial renewal
• 24 hours per renewal (October 1^st)
• In-person or face-to-face, synchronous virtual materials all qualify for renewal
• Accepts PACE
• CEU recording form: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/professions/chiropractic/chiropractic_continuing_education_record_form.pdf

Step by step instructions

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

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

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.

• 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

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.

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.

1. NUCC Grouping: Chiropractic Providers
2. Provider type: Doctor of Chiropractic
3. Select your state
4. Social security number
5. Demographics and contact information
6. License number(s) and state(s)
7. Educational information (about your chiropractic school and degree)
8. Board certified: No (chiropractors are not board certified, and do not need to be)
9. You may select directory listings and other searchable tags
10. Practice location(s), including TIN
11. 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.
12. Malpractice insurance information: company, expiration dates, and policy numbers.
13. 10 year work history, dates, addresses, etc.
14. Professional disclosures
15. 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

Common insurance companies include Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Dr.Dynasaur (Medicaid), UHC (Optum)

• Aetna: https://www.aetna.com/health-care-professionals/join-the-aetna-network.html
• BCBS of Vermont: https://www.bluecrossvt.org/providers/enrollment-and-credentialing
• Cigna: https://www.cigna.com/health-care-providers/credentialing/join-medical-network
• Dynasaur and Medicaid: https://www.vtmedicaid.com/#/provEnrollDataMaint
• UHC (viaOneHealth) https://www.uhcprovider.com/en/resource-library/Join-Our-Network.html

Medicare Enrollment:
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/Downloads/cms855i.pdf

Medicare Revalidation: PECOS:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/PaLEWx0JGPw?rel=0&autoplay=0

Tips For Medicare Audit/Record Request Tips
https://www.acatoday.org/Practice-Resources/Medicare/Medicare-Audit-Record-Request-Tips

Type Of Audit And Record Requests
https://www.acatoday.org/practice-resources/medicare/medicaretpe/

Targeted Probe And Education (TPE)
http://www.acatoday.org/MedicareTPE

Medicare Training For The Chiropractic Office
https://learn.acatoday.org/products/medicare-training-for-the-chiropractic-office

How To Bill Secondary Insurance Plans
https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/how-medicare-works-with-other-insurance

Which Insurance Pays First
https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/how-medicare-works-with-other-insurance/which-insurance-pays-first

Medicaid: Administered by the Department of Vermont Health Access (Agency of Human Services)

• Manual manipulation of the spine for correction of misalignment of the spine
• 12 treatments per calendar year per beneficiary
  • Prior auth. Required if additional visits needed
  • Prior auth. For children under 12 years of age

• Administered through the Department of Labor
• “Related to on-the-job injury or occupational disease … no limit on the duration of this coverage as long as the treatment is a direct result of the work injury or occupational disease.” 
• Guide: https://labor.vermont.gov/sites/labor/files/doc_library/A-Guide-for-Vermont-Business-Owners.pdf