Acupuncturists in Illinois

WHO CAN PERFORM ACUPUNCTURE IN ILLINOIS? IS ACUPUNCTURE WITHIN CHIROPRACTIC SCOPE?

Acupuncture is within chiropractic scope, both under the Medical Practice Act and the acupuncture licensing law, which expressly authorizes a properly trained physician or dentist licensed in Illinois to practice acupuncture in Illinois.   

As is the case for any category of physician performing any procedure, standard of care requires that the physician possess adequate education and training to perform the technique.  It is not sufficient simply that the treatment method is legally within scope, because the Medical Practice Act requires physicians to practice within their expertise.  The law does not specify the type or number of hours of acupuncture training that would be required of a physician to meet the standard of care, but, in the event of an investigation, it would be determined by expert testimony comparing similar physicians in similar geographical locales.

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Of course, the Acupuncture Practice Act also allows acupuncturists who are licensed by IDFPR to perform acupuncture, either independently or with a written referral from an M.D., D.O., D.C., or D.D.S.  When a licensed acupuncturist treats a patient pursuant to a written order of an MD, DO, DC, or DDS, the law provides that these doctors may maintain management of the patient by expressly stating their intent to do so in the referral, and the acupuncturist must notify the referring doctor that the patient is receiving acupuncture treatment.   In all cases, an acupuncturist must refer to a licensed physician or dentist any patient whose condition should be determined to be beyond the scope of practice of the acupuncturist. 

WHAT ARE THE CPT® CODES FOR ACUPUNCTURE?

• 97810 Acupuncture, one or more needles, without electrical stimulation, initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient.
• 97811 Acupuncture, one or more needles, without electrical stimulation, each additional 15-minute increment of personal one-to-one contact with the patient, with reinsertion. (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure).
• 97813 Acupuncture, one or more needles, with electrical stimulation, initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient.
• 97814 Acupuncture, one or more needles, with electrical stimulation, each additional 15-minute increment of personal one-on-one contact with the patient, with reinsertion. (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure).

Editor’s Note: Dry needling and acupuncture are often confused because they both use needles; however, they are not identical. For more information about dry needling in Illinois, please click here.