Now is the Time to Support Acupuncture in NC

By Chris Helmstetter, LAc

The most frequent question asked by patients is whether insurance covers acupuncture in North Carolina. Although a few federal and state plans do, most insurance companies offer no benefits at all for acupuncture. It would make sense if it did—acupuncture is well documented in its effectiveness for pain, infertility, asthma, digestive disorders, autoimmune diseases and many other conditions. And everyone could stand to benefit from insurance coverage: patients, providers and the insurance companies themselves. But the reality is that even if something makes sense and is logical it still needs a push to change the status quo.

North Carolina only has about 450 licensed acupuncturists (LAc’s) state wide. With such small numbers acupuncturists have not participated in the state’s healthcare debate with the same force that physical therapists, chiropractors, nurses and doctors have. But in 2010 the North Carolina state acupuncture association (NCAAOM) adopted a plan to give LAc’s a voice in the process. The strategy consisted of grassroots organization of LAc’s in each region of North Carolina, surveys and meetings to determine specific goals of the acupuncture community, the hiring of a lobbyist to offer suggestions on navigating state politics, and the formation of a political action committee (PAC) as a vehicle to raise money.

The result of this effort identified two main goals for acupuncture in NC:

1. Maintain the highest training possible for acupuncture while educating the public that the acupuncture received from Licensed Acupuncturist includes over 3000 hours of Master’s Degree training in Western and Eastern medical concepts and clinic.

2. Gain statewide insurance reimbursement for acupuncture services by going through the legislative process in the NC General Assembly.

All aspects of NCAAOM’s strategy were completed by mid-2012 with the formation of “Acupuncture Advocates,” a PAC that will raise money to achieve these two goals. The upcoming elections in NC are our opportunity to support political candidates (of any party) that understand the importance of acupuncture and its inclusion in the insurance system. The case for acupuncture is clear: it is effective, it is cost-efficient and saves money compared to other treatment modalities, and it is one of the safest forms of medicine practiced today. And the benefits are significant: maintaining high level acupuncture care throughout NC, greater accessibility to acupuncture to people that need it, and reduced out-of-pocket cost to all patients that currently enjoy its benefits.

All of us at Triangle Acupuncture Clinic fully support the NCAAOM and Acupuncture Advocates in their goals. We understand that the time is now—right now—to raise as much money as we can to influence the future of acupuncture and insurance reimbursement for its services. We ask that all those that benefit from and believe in the value of acupuncture give whatever they can to Acupuncture Advocates by the end of October 2012. The money raised will go directly to obtaining the goals of maintaining standards of practice for licensed acupuncturists and to gaining insurance reimbursement for acupuncture in the state of North Carolina. To donate please follow these two easy steps:

1. Go to ncaaom.org and join the state acupuncture association as a supporting member for $10. Only members of NCAAOM may donate to its affiliated PAC

2. Then go to acupunctureadvocates.com to learn more about the PAC and donate any amount to further acupuncture in NC.

The window is small, the need is great, and the issue affects us all. Now is the time to affect a positive change for everyone who appreciates acupuncture in the state of North Carolina.