Preparing for Medicare Coverage of Acupuncture (for cLBP and more): prepwork, issues & barriers, success stories

Community discussions, resource pdfs, success stories and more from November 2020 - Fall 2022.

last updated 8.28.2022

Who can access this resource

This online resource is intended for LAc healthcare system-based clinicians and their program managers. In 2022, this resource is free to Tier 1 and Tier 2 HHP community discussion platform subscribers. There is an option to subscribe to just this resource for a low price, but it is strongly recommended you join the community discussion platform and subscribe at Tier 1 or Tier 2 level to access more resources and its more active discussion threads.

What this is

This HHP-hosted online access module/course, "Community Discussion on Preparing Your Program for Medicare's Coverage of Acupuncture for chronic low back pain (cLBP) and more: prep work, issues & barriers, success stories," is an ongoing resource module from November 2020 to Fall 2022. This online topic-focused resource was created to more easily share this information and discussion space with the healthcare system-based acupuncture clinician and program manager community. The creation of this HHP-hosted online resource began with a request from the community in the fall of year 2020 which led to our first event hosted for this specific topic, an informal community discussion on Saturday, November 14th, 2020.

This resource includes recordings of past discussions and has space to add links to future discussions. It includes resource pdfs and other references for learning more about this topic. And, when possible, we share success stories from the field. Community discussion on this topic helps us identify what resources we already have, what questions are unanswered, what workarounds look like, and new solutions based on refining "the questions." By fall 2022, we have made much progress in answering some of our original queries from 2020, but we have a ways to go to establish clean solutions to the current barriers. However, several solutions have been identified.

Dive in to this resource to learn more and join the discussion!

This online resource module includes the following:

  • The first community discussion session, 11.14.2022
    • video recording of the 11.14.2020 session
    • presentation slides used during discussion (pdf)
    • notes with timestamps for this discussion, courtesy of Megan of HHP
  • references from CMS (copies of these free resources)
    • copy of CMS's decision memo for acupuncture for cLBP
    • copy of CMS covered ICD codes dated August 2020
    • CMS Provider Resource MLN booklets on CMS-1500 and CMS-1450
  • space for discussion in comments
  • A success story shared, summer 2021
  • March 2021 inquiry to CMS to speak/present to the HHP community & their response
  • April 2021 Issues in Hospital-based Practice session with integrative health federal legislative expert, guest speaker Kallie Byrd Guimond, OM.D, on "Medicare, SSA, and LAcs". Recording, slides pdf, and more available.
  • July 2021--Rep. Judy Chu (CA) introduces inclusion legislation that gets LAcs on the SSA's list of "recognized professionals," HR 4803 Acupuncture for Our Seniors.
    • What is this bill? Why does it matter?
    • How has it changed since 2021?
    • How is this related to issues with Medicare denials of LAc care in the healthcare system-based programs?
    • Dec 2021 community discussion update. Recording.
  • August 2022. HR 4803--Has Your Rep Signed? Read the latest updates here.
  • Late August 2022. How to Successfully Communicate with Your Rep's Office. Format and an Example.
  • August 2022 live community discussion sessions
    • access to recording (video and audio) summary of the multiple discussion sessions in August
    • pdf of slides with hyperlinks to references and resources mentioned
  • a


Thank you to our sponsor, Sandro Graca of Evidence Based Acupuncture for covering the cost of hosting the November 2020 discussion session and the outgoing expense of making the recordings (audio and video) of the Nov 2020 session possible. This sponsorship also allows me to make access to this resource very low cost, just at the equivalent of a coffeehouse latteβ˜• or a nice pot of tea.🍡

The cost of access to this course is equivalent to a cup of virtual coffee and goes to support the basic operating costs of The Hospital Handbook Project, a not-for-profit community resource project. Supporting this work helps us get closer to meeting our goals of covering our basic operating costs and to keep this community resource going. To support directly, go to the "support the project" page on our website for more options.

Thank you!

Megan


Your Instructor


Megan Kingsley Gale, MSAOM
Megan Kingsley Gale, MSAOM

Megan is an integrative medicine practitioner, traditional Asian medicine specialty. She graduated from Bastyr University in 2006 with a Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MSAOM) and is a national board-certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

She volunteers as director of The Hospital-based Practice Handbook Project (HHP) for Acupuncturists and their Hospital Sponsors. The HHP is a nonprofit community resource project.

Her website is: https://www.thehospitalhandbook.com/


Course Curriculum


  Community Discussion Session 11.14.2020
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Background
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Inquiry to CMS on Resources and Invitation to Speak to HHP Community
Available in days
days after you enroll
  2021: Register for the HHP Webinar on LAc inclusion in Social Security Act/Federal Legislation
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


How long do I have access to the course?
A long time, as long as you have payment set up for this course (i.e. if this is a monthly recurring payment and you discontinue payment, you will no longer have access). If we ever disable access to this course or move its location, you will be given notice by email. We will use whichever email you keep on file to log in to this resource.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 20 days and we will give you a full refund.

Thank you for supporting the Hospital Practice Handbook Project, a not-for-profit community resource!

If you are looking for other ways you can support this continued community work, please see our options on the "Support the Project" page on our website.

Thank you!

Get started now!