From the category archives:

Patient Rights to CAM

Acupuncture: What if Everyone Had Access to It?

January 26, 2012

What if Acupuncture was included in every insurance plan as part of “Essential Health Benefits”? From the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s (AAAOM) website: In 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, a health insurance reform law intended to ensure access to quality and affordable health insurance for all Americans. Starting in [...]

Read the full article → by Inger Giffin, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.

It’s Asian and Oriental (Chinese) Medicine Day!

October 24, 2011

Today is AOM day!  AOM stands for Asian and Oriental Medicine, another term used to describe the group of modalities included in Chinese Medicine, which includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Asian bodywork, Qi Gong, and Chinese nutritional therapy.  AOM day is part of an effort designed to increase public awareness of the progress, promise, and [...]

Read the full article → by Inger Giffin, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.

Acupuncture Insurance Parity Bill Passed in Colorado!

April 2, 2011

It’s a great week in the world of Acupuncture in the United States, and particularly Colorado.  A bill just passed, and will be signed into legislation soon, that requires insurance companies that cover acupuncture to accept claims from real, licensed acupuncturists. Up until now, insurance companies could deny reimbursement to legitimate acupuncturists while accepting claims [...]

Read the full article → by Inger Giffin, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.

Want the Acupuncture Covered Under your Insurance Plan to Cover Treatment by Legitimate, Licensed Acupuncturists?

March 20, 2011

Right now, there is a huge issue within the field of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.  Currently, many insurance companies cover acupuncture services, BUT ONLY IF ADMINISTERED BY AN M.D. Of course, this makes no sense at all, because MD’s are not required to have ANY acupuncture education at all, even though some do elect to [...]

Read the full article → by Inger Giffin, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.

Letter to Obama on Patient’s Rights to Access of Options in Care

January 10, 2010

As the American Medical Association attempts to weed out, via legislation, patient’s access and rights to alternative and complementary forms of medicine, the Coalition for Patient’s Rights responded with this letter to Obama:http://www.patientsrightscoalition.org/Media-Resources/Letter-to-Obama.aspx Send a letter to your congressional representative in only 10 seconds, by clicking here: www.rallycongress.com/aaaom/1944/please-support-hr-646-federal-acupuncture-coverage-act/ It’s EASY!!!  You don’t even have to [...]

Read the full article → by Inger Giffin, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.

Why Should I Care if the Person Giving Me Acupuncture is a Licensed Acupuncturist…or, When Your Acupuncturist is not an Acupuncturist

November 15, 2009

Would you go to a French language teacher who had taken a short course in Chinese to learn the Chinese language? Would you go to an auto body specialist who had worked on a few engines, to get your car’s engine fixed? Of course not! But this is exactly what people are doing when they see a chiropractor, MD, osteopath, or anyone else besides a Licensed Acupuncturist, for acupuncture. Acupuncture has become so popular lately that many who are not licensed are wanting to add it to their list of service.

Read the full article → by Inger Giffin, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.