Preserving and Protecting the Rights of Acupuncturist Petition.
Dear Senator,
We the undersigned have noticed that Motorola, Pacific Telesis, US Bank, GEHA, and other self-funded plans are currently offering acupuncture as a health benefit, but they are excluding licensed acupuncturist from getting reimbursed for treatment rendered. These plans specifically state for reimbursement purposes acupuncture needs to be performed by a licensed M.D., D.O, or chiropractor!!!
We did some research on these self-funded plans and they do not fall under state mandates and are governed under Federal Law(ERISA), which does not have any anti-discrimination laws in place, such as the SB 2179 in California, which makes it illegal for health care insurance plans in California to expressly cover acupuncture when performed by an M.D, but not when performed by licensed acupuncturists.
We called the Dept of Labor at 202-219-8776 who oversee these plans and they mentioned that there are no current laws in place or bills in front of Congress to prevent this injustice to our profession and at the same time protect the rights and welfare of patients who are seeking a qualified healthcare practitioner for acupuncture services.
Here is the rub. According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, there are over 140 million plus employees under self-funded plans and expect to grow exponentially. The reason why these self-funded plans are growing nationally is to minimize the cost of rising health care, prevent state access to these self-funded plans for taxation purposes, and prevent states from exercising control with mandates set in place like the SB2179 in California to protect our profession.
There are over 50,000 licensed acupuncturists in the entire United States who are faced with the same injustice and would greatly appreciate your support and commitment to presenting this inequality to your peers in Congress and promptly pass a bill similar to Senate Bill 2179 in California on a federal level, which will prevent self-funded insurance plans from exluding licensed acupuncturists from getting reimbursed for services rendered when the plan offers acupuncture as a health benefit.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dear Senator,
We the undersigned have noticed that Motorola, Pacific Telesis, US Bank, GEHA, and other self-funded plans are currently offering acupuncture as a health benefit, but they are excluding licensed acupuncturist from getting reimbursed for treatment rendered. These plans specifically state for reimbursement purposes acupuncture needs to be performed by a licensed M.D., D.O, or chiropractor!!!
We did some research on these self-funded plans and they do not fall under state mandates and are governed under Federal Law(ERISA), which does not have any anti-discrimination laws in place, such as the SB 2179 in California, which makes it illegal for health care insurance plans in California to expressly cover acupuncture when performed by an M.D, but not when performed by licensed acupuncturists.
We called the Dept of Labor at 202-219-8776 who oversee these plans and they mentioned that there are no current laws in place or bills in front of Congress to prevent this injustice to our profession and at the same time protect the rights and welfare of patients who are seeking a qualified healthcare practitioner for acupuncture services.
Here is the rub. According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, there are over 140 million plus employees under self-funded plans and expect to grow exponentially. The reason why these self-funded plans are growing nationally is to minimize the cost of rising health care, prevent state access to these self-funded plans for taxation purposes, and prevent states from exercising control with mandates set in place like the SB2179 in California to protect our profession.
There are over 50,000 licensed acupuncturists in the entire United States who are faced with the same injustice and would greatly appreciate your support and commitment to presenting this inequality to your peers in Congress and promptly pass a bill similar to Senate Bill 2179 in California on a federal level, which will prevent self-funded insurance plans from exluding licensed acupuncturists from getting reimbursed for services rendered when the plan offers acupuncture as a health benefit.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dear Senator,
We the undersigned have noticed that Motorola, Pacific Telesis, US Bank, GEHA, and other self-funded plans are currently offering acupuncture as a health benefit, but they are excluding licensed acupuncturist from getting reimbursed for treatment rendered. These plans specifically state for reimbursement purposes acupuncture needs to be performed by a licensed M.D., D.O, or chiropractor!!!
We have done some research on these plans and they don%u2019t fall under state mandates and are governed under Federal Law(ERISA), which doesn%u2019t have any anti-discrimination laws in place, such as the SB 2179 in California, which makes it illegal for health care service plans in California to expressly cover acupuncture when performed by M.D.%u2019s, but not when performed by licensed acupuncturists.
We called the Dept of Labor at 202-219-8776 who oversee these plans and they mentioned there are no current laws in place or bills in front of Congress to prevent this injustice to our profession and at the same time protect the rights and welfare of patients who are seeking a qualified healthcare practitioner for acupuncture services.
Here is the rub%u2026According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, there are over 140 million plus employees under self-funded plans and expect to grow exponentially. The reason why these self-funded plans are growing nationally is to minimize the cost of rising health care, prevent state access to these self-funded plans for taxation purposes, and prevent states from exercising control with mandates set in place like the SB2179 in California to protect our profession.
There are over 12,000 in California and more than 50,000 licensed acupuncturists in the United States who are faced with the same injustice and would greatly appreciate your support and commitment to presenting this inequality to your peers in Congress and pass a bill similar to Senate Bill 2179 in California on a Federal level would be greatly be appreciated.
What do MD's and DO's and DC's know about acupuncture? They have no idea what to do with them!! Think that by just stabbing some place in the skin makes them work?!? You need to learn professionally for at least 4 years to know what to do with a needle!!
I believe deeply in this cause.
I really am disapointed to learn that there are so many arogant and ignorant people out there in the health-care field to consider letting the untrained M.D performing acupunture. It is an irresponsible act of carelessness to the public health and to prevent the general public of receiving the quality medical care. We, the licensed and the future licensed acupuncturists are professionally trained in this ancient healing art, and we provide the better and not to mention the exceptional quality care to the public. We should be reimbursed for services rendered when the plan offers acupuncture as a health benefit. To ensured the better quality health-care and to provide the most effective treatment to the public (instead of causing more harm then good due to the untrained professionals); to encourage more people to involve with their health and to be awared of the benifit of acupunture, we ask to be treated fairly as any medical providers. Please consider this pertition as a justify act to the public health. Truly your, Heidi L. Fletcher
Eastern medicine is different from Western medicine. There is a reason why Eastern medicine has been around for a long time and still is around today. A certified acupuncturist can heal a body in different ways than MDs can. A Chiropractor can heal the body in different ways than a Physical Therapist can. A Physical Therapist can heal the body in different ways than a Surgeon can. All are specialist in their own way. All these professions aid in healing the body so they all should be covered under health insurance.
Acupucture and traditional chinese medicine not only keep pepole's life but save pepole's life.
Reinforce of Acupuncture status is one of the changes US healthcare system ought to make, since it's totally organic.
I think there is a big difference between someone who specializes in Acupuncture and receives licensure, and a MD who dabbles in acupuncture and just gets light training in it. Although MD's have great knowledge of medicine, there is such a big difference between eastern and western medicial principles it is difficult to master acupuncture with just a couple of classes.
we the acupuncturist have our extensive board exam and needs to be fully equipped with knowlege in order to pass the exam and practice acupuncture for the patients.. We have the right to be respected as health practicnor
The purpose of passingbills and legislation is to protect the public and that is what is at stake. Licensed acupunturists have over 3 years of formal training. 300 hours of training is not sufficient to get results, nor is it safe to treat a patient with so little formal training.
Please preserve their rights!
The recognition for acupuncture is increasing by the day, and its usage is becoming more mainstream than holistic medicine. People who specialize acupuncture should be able to enjoy the same privilege as any other health professions.
Preserving and Protecting the Rights of Acupuncturist Petition.
As a Western MD, I strongly support the practice of accupuncture and believe that many of us, Western Medical Doctors are going to join the ranks of the OM professionals. Please help us to protect our rights.
I care about this cause.
Dear U.S. Congress and Senators, This petition will impact not only the Acupuncture profession but it also impedes on the right of the American people to have access to CAM/TCM treatments. I understand that there are those in the position of power that make decisions that are most economical and beneficial to a select few, but I still believe in the people that strive to bring justice, fair play, and a chance for health and recovery. Please seriously consider the outcomes of this change! Sincerely, Sarah J. Lee
Acupuncture excluded from acupuncturists just like making the law without the congressmen involved.
Licensed acupuncturists are THE MOST Qualified professionals to perform acupuncture. MD's, DO's, and Chiropractors recieve no formal training in Traditional Chinese Medicine and must get thier acupuncture education from continuing education programs. To exclude licensed acupuncturists shows poor insight. Please take intelligent action and include acupuncturists in these plans, as obvous as that may sound.
Please take into consideration that chiropractor's & MD has only 300 hours of study, while Acupuncturist needs to go through over 4000 hours approximately for our license. We undergo an extensive training for our patients, please protect the public's health by not limiting us.
Every disciplines have their own uniqueness. Future of healthcare should be consist of integrated healthcare where all different disciplines provider put patient first and work cohesively to provide the best care. Why we all have to let insurance companies to dictate how we should practice. There should be no inequality among all these professions as long as we are practicing wihtin the scope of practice under the states law. Regardless you are MD, DC, L.AC,... we are all healthcare provider. We should stick to what we do best and don't be everything. Wellness and prevention is the key and our healthcare system need to be completely overhaul.
What makes a licensed acupuncturist not qualified to receive any reimbursement services? Acupuncture itself is a field of specialty, just like dentistry, physical therapy,and even chiropractic. Similarly, in the medical field itself, there are a number of specialties such as gynecology, dermatology, surgery, oncology, pediatry, and so on. It is unlikely that one MD can specialize in so many of these fields. This certainly has nothing to do with whether or not the MDs are able to possess more than one specialty. The point of conveyance relies, first and most importantly, on the PUBLIC SAFETY!! Can a general practitioner (MD) be a dentist at the same time? Can a chiropractor be a gynecologist at the same time? Theoretically, yes! This would definitely "minimize the cost of rising health care, prevent state access to these self-funded plans for taxation purposes..." Nevertheless, who could guarantee the safety and well-being of the patients? With a number specialties merged into one practice, more mistakes are bound to be made. As a result, the number of lawsuits per year will definitely increase. Undoubtedly, these would not only (negatively) affect the credibility of the practitioners, but also these self-funded organizations. Licensed acupuncturists definitely stand on the same ground level as licensed dentists, chiropractors, and many others. They are health practitioners that are qualified to carry out the work that they have been so intensely trained to do. Therefore, licensed acupuncturists should be given the same priviledge as other medical fields. Most importantly, the public has no complain whatsoever about licensed acupuncturists. Hence, what seem to be the problem with independent licensed acupuncturists? They are here for the same reasons as other health practitioners...to serve the communities, upholding the importance of safety, health, and longevities. Thus, again, what makes a licensed acupuncturist not qualified to receive any reimbursement services?
It is not only regarding our/our patients' entitled insurance benefits but also regarding our federal legal rights to be defended for our profession as Licensed Acupuncturists so there will be no mistakes made as such a bias in existence and in the future!!!
