Acupuncture an Essential Health Benefit
Source: UCLA
http://exploreim.ucla.edu/news/acupuncture-is-an-essential-health-benefit-in-california-for-2014/
Breaking news: Acupuncture will be considered an “essential health benefit” in California and will be covered by individual and small group health plans starting in 2014.
The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) EHB Task Force has worked hard over the past year to bring the health benefits of acupuncture into mainstream medicine.
On Sept. 30th, Governor Jerry Brown signed measures SB951 and AB 1453, to include covering acupuncture under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).The two measures included acupuncture as an “essential health benefit” that the state can begin to offer through federally subsidized plans for individuals and families as well as unsubsidized plans. Under this plan, patients will pay a $30 co-pay for acupuncture services to treat nausea and chronic pain starting in 2014.
This is a critical and exciting step forward in the integration of Oriental Medicine into the American healthcare system. Increasing the accessibility of acupuncture to the American patient base widens the variety of effective treatment options and will potentially improve the overall cost-effectiveness of our healthcare system.
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32662
