Hi Lisag,

I'm glad to hear that you were able to receive reimbursement for your colonics.

However, unless your colon hydrotherapist is a medical practitioner...they are putting themselves in considerable jeapordy by stating a diagnosis and providing a CPT code. And most colon hydrotherapist won't...and shouldn't do this! Let me explain: a diagnostic code is an indication of a medical condition and a CPT code is an indication of the treatment for that condition. If these codes are used it implies that the person making the determination is a medical practitioner. Any colon hydrotherapist (who is not also a medical practitioner) is in danger of being charged with practicing medicine without a license which is a felony offense.

Colon hydrotherapists should never diagnose or even imply that they are providing 'treatment'. Doing so not only puts the individual CHT in danger, but could also potentially put the entire practice of colon hydrotherapy in jeapordy! Some CHTs will even avoid using the term 'therapist' as they feel like they're walking a thin line on this same issue...they call themselves colon irrigationists instead. As with many alternative/complementary practices...there are plenty of folks in the medical professions that would welcome the opportunity to eliminate these practices altogether or take control of them for their own use. When CHTs provide diagnostic and CPT codes they're giving the medical community just the kind of ammunition they need to 'justify' why this practice should not be allowed or only administered by a licensed medical practitioner.

It is not my intention to contradict you or be argumentative. As a CHT myself, I've just heard too many stories of federal agents confiscating colon hydrotherapy equipment and closing down practices for much lesser 'offenses'...so I know the threat is a very real one, both to the individual CHT and to the profession as a whole.