For Mass General Brigham employees, it’s never been easier to find an acupuncturist in your area. AllWays Health Partners covers up to 20 sessions of acupuncture as a treatment option for individuals with acute or chronic pain. It typically takes 4 to 8 sessions for new patients to experience relief from chronic pain symptoms.
To find a provider, go to https://www.allwayshealthpartners.org/ and sign into your account. Once logged in, click “Find Doctors & Care” on the upper navigation bar. Enter your zip code and search “acupuncture” in the search bar. Click the enter key, and all covered providers in your area will be displayed along with their contact information.
Once matched with someone in your area, call the phone number and the coordinating center will begin the screening process to ensure you are eligible for insurance coverage and help schedule an appointment. For more in-depth information on coverage, view the AllWays Health Partners Acupuncture Medical Policy.
For those not insured by AllWays Health Partners, in 2020 the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced their decision to cover up to 20 sessions of acupuncture annually for patients suffering with chronic low back pain. This decision comes after CMS’ request for public comment related to the government’s exploration into the inclusion of acupuncture treatment in federal payment schemes.
The Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR), which includes Osher leadership, provided their recommendations to Medicare/Medicaid in April 2019. The SAR is a leading international research organization dedicated to the evidence-based practice and scientific investigation of acupuncture. They outlined the clinical evidence that indicates acupuncture is safe, effective, cost efficient, and provides long term therapeutic benefits for many chronic pain conditions. To read more about these studies, access the paper here. For more information on Medicare coverage, visit https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/acupuncture.
Matthew Kowalski, DC, Associate Clinical Director at the Osher Clinical Center, commented on this new legislature with his perspective from the clinic, “I certainly expect this policy change to ignite greater interest in acupuncture in our Medicare policy holders. Along with parallel changes in coverage for insurance providers such as AllWays Health Partners, our patients will be able to access affordable acupuncture treatments.”
To learn more about acupuncture services at the Osher Clinical Center, please contact the center at (617) 732-9700.