BASICS

 

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WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM CHINESE MEDICINE? 

Treatment can help whether you are suffering from an acute or chronic condition. Many people find me after exhausting other medical options. They come with digestive disturbance, insomnia, anxiety and depression, traumatic injury, chronic pain, migraines, eczema, fatigue, respiratory infections, menstrual pain, hormone imbalance, infertility, auto-immune conditions, long COVID…this list could get very long. All symptoms are indications that your body is working to heal itself. Chinese medicine supports this process.  If you have a condition that impacts multiple systems in your body (and has a mental/emotional component), with a long list of symptoms that have evolved over many years, you are my ideal patient. 

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WILL MY INSURANCE COVER TREATMENT? 

Coverage depends on your specific plan and the condition being treated. Here’s what you need to know:

Medicare Plans (including Advantage plans): Most Medicare plans only cover acupuncture when performed by a medical doctor, not by licensed acupuncturists. There are some exceptions, but these plans are currently changing.

Marketplace and Employer Plans: Coverage is condition-specific. Insurance companies recognize acupuncture as beneficial for certain conditions, and these vary by plan. Chronic low back pain and neck pain are commonly covered conditions. For other concerns, you’ll need to verify coverage directly with your insurance company.

 

Verify Your Coverage

Please contact your insurance company to:

    •    Request a list of conditions for which they consider acupuncture “medically necessary”

    •    Confirm your specific benefits (co-pay/co-insurance/deductible) and any requirements

If you receive documentation that seems confusing, feel free to email it to me and we can review it together.

Important: The qualifying condition must be your primary reason for seeking care (your “chief complaint”). If you have occasional minor back pain but are seeking treatment for an uncovered condition, you would need to pay out of pocket unless your back pain has significantly flared up and becomes our treatment focus.

 

Why We Require Pre-Verification

Insurance companies have increasingly strict requirements, including:

    •    More detailed clinical documentation

    •    Regular audits to verify medical necessity

    •    Demands for practitioners to refund payments if treatments don’t meet their guidelines

To protect both you and our practice, we need to ensure coverage is confirmed before treatment begins.

 

Our Insurance Partnerships

I am a preferred provider with:

    •    Aetna

    •    Regence BlueCross BlueShield

    •    MODA

    •    United Healthcare

    •    Pacific Source

 

Next Steps

Please verify your insurance benefits and submit the completed verification form through our patient portal prior to your initial appointment. This helps us provide you with accurate information about your coverage and any out-of-pocket costs.

If you have questions about this process, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.

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NEW PATIENT INTAKE FORMS

All forms are available within the patient portal. You will receive an invitation to complete forms upon scheduling. 

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SCHEDULING QUESTIONS?

You may schedule online by clicking the button at the top of each page on this website. Free consultations are available to those seeking care for the first time. The online schedule does not allow for early or late day appointments, but these may be available. Please call and let me know if you require help finding a time that works with your busy schedule.  

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WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY APPOINTMENT? If you would like to cancel or reschedule an appointment more than 48 hours in advance, you may do that online or by texting/calling. If, at the last minute, you can’t make it to your appointment, please call right away. I understand that unexpected situations arise and there may be someone waiting for an opening. If you are ill, you may transfer your appointment to telemedicine. Chinese herbs reduce symptoms, severity, and duration of infection. Last minute cancellations are subject to a $100 fee and "no shows" will be charged the full price.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW PRIOR TO MY FIRST VISIT?

• Comfortable clothes are a bonus, but there is no need to wear special attire.  

• Please arrive well nourished and hydrated. 

• If you're receiving acupuncture for the first time, you may have some concerns about the needles. I always use sterile, single use needles. The needles are so tiny that sometimes they're hardly felt. Most often, there is a brief pricking sensation that fades as quickly as it appeared. I encourage open communication during treatments to ensure that you feel entirely comfortable.