Medicare will cover acupuncture for chronic low back pain that meets the following criteria: Lasting 12 weeks or longer; Nonspecific, in that it has no identifiable systemic cause (i.e., not associated with metastatic, inflammatory, infectious, etc. disease); Not associated with surgery; and Not associated with pregnancy.

Up to 12 visits in 90 days will be covered. If the patient shows improvement, an additional eight sessions may be covered. However, no more than 20 acupuncture treatments may be administered per year. In addition, “[t]reatment must be discontinued if the patient is not improving or is regressing.”

There has been a large shift in the mainstream medical community. The dangers of using opiate derived medications to treat chronic pain have overwhelmed the benefits of their prescribed use. Averse results from long and short-term use have driven the medical community to search for more effective and safer treatments for these chronic pain patients. One of the leaders in the search for better pain management solutions has been the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs. With thousands of retired veteran’s suffering from pain, the VA has implemented various new programs to help support veterans who suffer from chronic pain. The Veteran’s Choice Program is open to all veterans dealing with chronic pain. Most patients are eligible for up to 48 visits per year, which allows for weekly acupuncture visits. The VA covers all costs, and the veterans are able to schedule their personal appointments directly with the Choice program. In order to enroll, veterans need to contact their VA physician and request to be enrolled into the program. No patients will be denied the ability to access this care. If you, a friend and/or veteran family member are interested in this program, feel free to contact our office and we will help you get started on this wonderful new benefit for veterans.

Acupuncture activates and strengthens your body’s natural healing mechanisms, so it can alleviate, improve or stop the progression of many different health conditions. Keep in mind that acupuncture has a cumulative effect in the body, so most people will require a series of treatments to achieve the best therapeutic benefit. Our sliding scale exists to keep your treatment plan affordable. Below is a list of conditions that acupuncture has proven efficacy in treating. If you do not see your health concern listed, please contact us to discuss how acupuncture might help you. Acute & Chronic Pain Allergies & Sinusitis Arthritis & Joint Pain Anxiety & Insomnia Asthma & Bronchitis Back, Neck, Shoulder Pain Bursitis & Tendonitis Cardiovascular Diseases Chronic Fatigue Common Cold & Flu Cystitis Depression Fibromyalgia Gastro-Intestinal Disorders Headache & Migraine Hip/Leg & Sciatic Pain Hemorrhoids Hypertension Incontinence Infertility Liver Disease & Hepatitis Menopause Menstrual Disorders Peripheral Neuropathy Premenstrual Syndrome Smoking Sports Injuries Stroke & Paralysis Substance Abuse Please call if you have questions about a condition not listed. Other Therapies Offered at the Clinic: Electro-AcupunctureElectro-Muscle Stimulation Auricular Acupuncture Nutritional Therapy Cupping Moxibustion Guasha Stop Smoking Therapy Postural Therapy Massage Therapy

Today acupuncturists undertake three to four years of extensive and comprehensive graduate training at nationally certified schools. All acupuncturists must pass a national exam and meet strict guidelines to practice in every state.

Your health insurance may cover acupuncture services, we can check it for you. We accept Banner Health Insurance, Anthem insurance and are an out of network provide for Anthem Blue Cross Blue shield, VA referrals, Medicare Advantage plans and many others. Many companies have acupuncture on their health insurance plan if you work for Intel you have acupuncture on your insurance plan, acupuncture Phoenix. If you were involved in a car accident you may be a candidate for a Personal Injury Claim and or car accident. We have experience working with these types of cases and can help you find an attorney if you do not already have one to represent you in the case. As far as the acupuncture treatment goes, you and your attorney have to sign our physicians lien document after which we can commence treatment. This is a courtesy we extend to you the patient so you do not have to pay upfront for the treatment received and defer paying our office once the case is settled from the proceeds of the disbursements. Please contact our office for more information. On January 21, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) issued a final decision stating that Medicare will now cover acupuncture for patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP). According to CMS: “The decision regarding coverage takes into account an assessment of benefits and harms and the opioid public health crisis. While a small number of adults 65 years of age or older have been enrolled in published acupuncture studies, patients with chronic low back pain in these studies showed improvements in function and pain. The evidence reviewed for this decision supports clinical strategies that include nonpharmacologic therapies for chronic low back pain. CMS notes too that while there is variation in covered indications and frequency of services, a number of large private payers provide some coverage of acupuncture for certain indications.”

Your first visit starts with a conversation. I take into account your full picture — injury, diet, emotions, environment, and stress — before we begin any treatment. From there, we'll do a hands-on assessment and start with a treatment plan tailored to what's going on with you specifically. My goal is to create a comfortable, safe environment where you feel at ease from the first needle.

Most patients are surprised by how little they feel. The needles we use are very fine — nothing like an injection needle — and many people find treatments deeply relaxing. Some points can produce a brief, mild sensation as the needle is placed, but it shouldn't be painful.

This varies by person and by condition. Acupuncture has a cumulative effect, so most patients need a series of treatments rather than a single visit to get the full benefit. After your first visit, I'll be able to give you a clearer sense of what a treatment plan looks like for your specific situation.