Chiropractors provide many valuable services, and we want to help you to know how best to submit a reimbursement request for them. Although chiropractic care is an eligible medical service, chiropractors sometimes perform other services such as nutritional counseling that may need a letter of medical necessity (LOMN) written by a licensed physician.
What are chiropractic services, and are they eligible without a note? Spinal manipulation, myofascial release, and spinal adjustments treat ailments related to the back, spine, muscles, and joints. Only licensed chiropractors can perform these services, which are considered medically necessary by the IRS, making them eligible for reimbursement.
I pay a monthly fee to my chiropractor. How do I submit a request for this payment? Membership-based plans are considered pre-payments for future services, so you must wait until the end of the service period before submitting your reimbursement request. The IRS requires that you receive all services related to an expense before reimbursement.
Once the service period has elapsed, you can submit a request with documentation showing how much your chiropractor billed you, the service period, and how much you paid. You may find this information on a bill or a detailed payment receipt.
I bought a package deal for multiple sessions. How do I submit a request for this payment? Package deals are considered pre-payments until each service has been rendered, so you can only submit a request for a session once you’ve received that service. When you’ve received a service, you will need to attach a detailed invoice showing the original charge, the payment you made, and a document showing when you received each service. You can find the amount allocated to each service by dividing the amount you paid by the number of sessions.
My chiropractor performs massages- is this eligible? Massage therapy typically requires a LOMN written by a physician before your employer can reimburse you. The IRS requires that you attach a LOMN if a massage therapist performs the massage or your chiropractor performs a full-service massage. If your chiropractor performs a massage in conjunction with other chiropractic services, you will not need to provide a LOMN. If a massage therapist performs the massage, or if it’s a full-service massage, the IRS will require that you attach a LOMN.
My chiropractor provides nutritional counseling- is this eligible? Nutritional counseling isn’t a chiropractic service and does require a LOMN written by a licensed physician before your employer can reimburse you.
Do supplements/herbal remedies require a letter of medical necessity (LOMN) if I purchase them from my chiropractor? Even if you buy supplements at a doctor’s recommendation, the IRS requires that supplements have a note written by a licensed physician stating that the specific supplement or herbal remedy is medically necessary.
Can my chiropractor write me a letter of medical necessity (LOMN)? We don’t generally accept notes written by chiropractors. If a licensed physician writes a LOMN recommending that you follow your chiropractor’s recommendations, we can accept a note from your chiropractor.