Spinal Adjustment denials: 31.8% overturned by independent reviewers
In 22 California IMR decisions from 2003 to 2025, reviewers overturned the plan 7 times (31.8%). In the last five years: 40.0% of 10. Denials reach IMR only when a member appeals all the way; read the caveats below before generalising.
By diagnosis
| Diagnosis category | Decisions | Overturned | Last 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orth/Musculoskeletal | 20 | 35.0% | 44.4% of 9 |
By year (last five)
| Year | Decisions | Overturned |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 1 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | 2 | 50.0% |
| 2024 | 4 | 50.0% |
| 2025 | 1 | 0.0% |
What the findings mention
| What the findings mention | Decisions | Overturned | All decisions here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published evidence citedThe findings refer to peer-reviewed or published evidence. | 8 | 37.5% | 31.8% |
| Records did not supportThe findings say the documentation did not show what was needed (usually an upheld denial). | 7 | 14.3% | 31.8% |
Keyword matches on the reviewer’s findings, not causes. A tag that appears mostly in overturned decisions is worth documenting in an appeal; it is not a guarantee.
From recent overturned decisions
“Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient is a 51-year-old female requesting reimbursement for chiropractic services. The patient falls into multiple categories that would make the above rendered treatment medically appropriate in this clinical setting. A patient with chronic lower back pain can be seen and treated by a chiropractor around four times monthly. For exacerbations in their pain, patients …”
“The physician reviewer found that Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient has requested reimbursement for chiropractic services. The Researchers recommend chiropractic spinal manipulation when specific criteria are met. These criteria include adequate documentation that the patient has symptomatic musculoskeletal or related disorder attributable to a mechanical, structural, or functional disorder of the sacroiliac, lumbosacral, lumbar, thoracic and/or cervical spine, …”
“Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient requested authorization and coverage for chiropractic services.On review of the peer-reviewed medical literature, there is adequate support for the requested chiropractic spinal manipulation for the management of this patient’s back and sciatic nerve pain. In one study, the authors concluded that for well-selected patients with recurrent or persistent nonspecific low back pain who …”
- California only: these are decisions by independent reviewers under California's IMR program (plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care). Other states and self-funded employer plans use different reviewers and rules.
- Selection: only denials that a member took all the way to IMR appear. Most denials are never appealed, and the ones that reach an external reviewer are not a random sample.
- Overturned means the reviewer disagreed with the plan; it does not mean the treatment worked or that a similar request will be approved.
- Argument tags are keyword matches on the reviewer's findings. They describe what the findings mention, not why the case was decided.
- Categories are DMHC's own labels (treatment sub-category and diagnosis category); 'Other' is a catch-all and is excluded from rankings.
Source: California Department of Managed Health Care, Independent Medical Review (IMR) Determinations, Trend (CHHS Open Data). Public California government data; Apellica's aggregates and tags are CC BY 4.0.
Questions
How often were Spinal Adjustment denials overturned?
In 22 California IMR decisions from 2003 to 2025, reviewers overturned the plan 7 times (31.8%). In the last five years: 40.0% of 10.
What did the reviewers' findings mention in overturned cases?
The table on this page counts keyword matches in the findings: prior therapies tried, contraindications, guidelines cited, published evidence, whether the records supported the request. They describe what the findings say, not why the case was decided.
Does a California IMR result apply to my plan?
Only California plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care go to IMR. Other states and self-funded employer plans use different reviewers, but the reasoning is the same kind: criteria, documentation and alternatives. Use the findings as a guide to what to document.
Related: California appeal rights · California external-review reversal rate · The levers library · CSV
Independent reviewers reverse plans when the record answers the criteria. Upload the denial letter; a senior reviewer reads it within 24 hours and tells you in writing whether it can be appealed and how. $0 upfront, 10% of what is recovered, nothing if we do not recover. Not a law firm.