TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Chiropractic Exclusions or Limitations

NED McWHERTER GOVERNOR STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE 500 JAMES ROBERTSON PARKWAY NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37219 B U L L E T I N TO: All Heal th Insurers FR: Elain e A. McReynolds, Commissioner ~~Jff Depar tme nt of Commerce and Insurance~ · RE: Chiro pra ctic Exclusions or Limitations DA: Septe mbe r 1, 1988 ELAINE A. McREYNOLDS COMMISSIONER The Dep artment has consistently held that T . C.A. Section 56-7-116 re quires policies to cover tre atment by a chiropract or the same as treatment by a physic ian. Insurers were noti fie d by an undated bulletin issued i n 1984 of the Department's position. Briefly, that position is that if a policy pays for treatment of a condition by a physici an, it must pay for treatment of that condition by a chiropractor. Exclusions which describe methods of treat ment us ed by chiroprac tors are not allowable. It h as c ome to the attention of the Depart ment tha t some insurers may have policies in force which c ontain dollar limitation s or number of visit limitations o n chirop ractic treatment. Since the statutory mandate cont rols ov er the specific po licy language, any policies containing such limitation s should be interpreted by the insurer as i f such limitation s were not in the policy. Of course, such limitation s s hould not be filed in the future a nd will not be approved. EAM/cmf