Opinion ID: 1165034
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Laboratory and X-ray Services.

Text: Katz was also denied Medicaid assistance for certain laboratory and X-ray services ordered by the chiropractor. Laboratory and X-ray services fall within the five mandatory categories of medical services. 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a)(3). 42 C.F.R. § 440.30 interprets laboratory and X-ray services as professional and technical laboratory and radiological services  (a) Ordered and provided by or under the direction of a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts within the scope of his practice as defined by State law... . A licensed chiropractor must be considered a practitioner of the healing arts under Section 61-4-2, N.M.S.A. 1978. To the extent that I.S.D. Manual § 310-E disallows coverage of laboratory and X-ray services on the basis that those services are ordered or performed by a licensed chiropractor, it conflicts with federal law. State law requires the DHS to administer the program consistent with the federal act. § 27-2-12, supra. The DHS therefore erred in denying Katz Medicaid assistance for laboratory and X-ray services on the basis that those services were ordered by a chiropractor. We affirm the denial to Katz of Medicaid benefits for services rendered by a chiropractor and a physical therapist. We reverse the DHS as to its denial of financial assistance for laboratory and X-ray services on the basis that those services were ordered by a chiropractor. IT IS SO ORDERED. SOSA, Senior Justice, and PAYNE, FEDERICI and RIORDAN, JJ., concur.