As a Medicare recipient recovering from a broken arm, this publisher was thrilled to see Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduce the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act this week to ensure that seniors have access to all available treatment options for conditions like chronic pain.
This legislation would increase access to acupuncture in our healthcare system by ensuring that licensed acupuncturists can participate as providers in Medicare so that seniors have this treatment option available to them.
Medicare has already acknowledged the value of acupuncture by issuing a National Coverage Determination for chronic lower back pain. However, licensed acupuncturists are currently prohibited from billing Medicare for providing the treatment for any reason other than for back pain.
Acupuncture can be an effective and safe non-drug alternative for millions of Americans experiencing chronic pain and recovering from substance abuse. The federal Affordable Care Act helped to increase access by allowing states to cover acupuncture in plans on state health exchanges.
“Everyone deserves the ability to take control of their own healthcare, including access to traditional Asian medicine, which has been successful at treating a range of health problems for thousands of years,” said Rep. Chu in her press release.
An ally of the acupuncture community, Chu says she has seen the life-changing impact acupuncture can have on patients. The Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act would add licensed acupuncturists to the Medicare program as providers, ensuring they can practice independently like other providers.
We reached out to local acupuncture practitioner Dr. Laura Huang of Zen Health and Laura Acupuncture in Pasadena. Huang, who received her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, is licensed in acupuncture and traditional herbal medicine. She has additional experience in nursing and public health and recently offered free massages to Eaton Fire victims.
“We think this is an important piece of legislation for the acupuncture profession,” says Huang. “It will provide access to acupuncture treatments and make a difference for seniors living with chronic pain, offering additional options for safe, effective pain management.”
The number of Medicare beneficiaries is projected to grow from 63 to 80 million over the next seven years. Currently, this population has limited access to practitioners with the most specific and advanced training who can provide non-pharmacological acupuncture treatments.
“Current barriers push seniors toward invasive surgeries and opioid reliance, to the detriment of their long-term health,” says Mina Larson, CEO of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). “Increasing access to acupuncturists will help improve healthcare outcomes and reduce healthcare spending for chronic conditions.”
While the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act has a positive outlook due to growing support for acupuncture as a treatment modality, the bill’s ultimate passage will depend on how effectively proponents can address concerns regarding Medicare integration and secure broad congressional backing.
The full text of the bill is available online.
