Guest guest Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 Obama has been very vague; at time while he was campaigning he supported ideas similar to what is going on in Massa. It's mandatory to purchase insurance and the state makes sure everybody somehow does it, or helps them buy into the state fund. Oregon has a state Medicaid system that is pretty comprehensive, but it doesn't cover acupuncture. I think it's most likely that the administration will not interfere with insurance business as usual just because they are one of the most powerful groups, I think they will just make money available to help people that have nothing right now, meaning it's like offering Medicaid to everyone below a certain income level, and ordering everyone one else to purchase it. This is really just my interpretation of what I see happening in Washington, I don't see them adopting a Canadian system. The most likely outcome for our profession is none, everything stays the same. however, the Hinchey bill is different and a totally separate issue, now that will affect us. Regards, Angela Pfaffenberger, Ph.D. angelapfa www.InnerhealthSalem.com Phone: 503 364 3022 - heylaurag Chinese Medicine Tuesday, March 10, 2009 4:55 PM Re: fighting the MD/DO only insurance coverage of acupuncture Here in Seattle this isn't a big issue. But whenever I hear about it happening elsewhere I feel really riled up about it. If there is a way that I can help out let me know. Chinese Medicine , mystir <ykcul_ritsym wrote: > > Hi Joni. I don't know much about the process, but it see me to me that if insurance companies covered Ac decently, everyone would benefit. I'm interested. > > --- On Tue, 3/10/09, Joni Kroll, D.Ac. <acujoni wrote: > Joni Kroll, D.Ac. <acujoni > fighting the MD/DO only insurance coverage of acupuncture > Chinese Medicine > Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 2:00 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > I would like to connect up with other L.Ac.'s interested in challenging and changing the policy of certain insurance companies who only cover acupuncture when it is performed by an MD or DO. I live in Hawaii and played a lead role in the 1993 legislation that does not exempt MD's, DO's or DC's from our practice act (meaning anyone wanting to practice acupuncture in Hawaii must graduate from accredited TCM schools and pass the NCCAOM exam, no shortcuts). By the way, every few years a group of MD's put forth a bill in the legislature trying to reverse this, thus it is an onging issue. One of their strongest arguments continues to be that Hawaii is the odd ball state, the only state with this " restriction. " > > > > Even here, where MD's practicing acupuncture without full licensure is illegal, I am faced with mainland insurance companies that deny my patients coverage because I'm not an MD/DO. I want to work with others to change that. I can go through our Insurance Commission here locally to show that in Hawaii this policy basically nullifies the patients benefit as MD's can practice acupuncture (unless they are a L.Ac.), but if I'm going to put forth the effort, perhaps a national effort would effectively improve things for all L.Ac.'s wishing to participate with insurance. > > > > Has anyone else out there successfully fought this issue or is willing to work with me on this? Is anyone from the AAAOM working on this issue already? > > > > Aloha, > > Joni Kroll, L.Ac. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 Here is a link to the Obama discussions on healthcare thus far.http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/index.html Michael W. Bowser, LAc Chinese Medicine angelapfa Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:07:44 -0700 Re: Obama & Hinchey Obama has been very vague; at time while he was campaigning he supported ideas similar to what is going on in Massa. It's mandatory to purchase insurance and the state makes sure everybody somehow does it, or helps them buy into the state fund. Oregon has a state Medicaid system that is pretty comprehensive, but it doesn't cover acupuncture. I think it's most likely that the administration will not interfere with insurance business as usual just because they are one of the most powerful groups, I think they will just make money available to help people that have nothing right now, meaning it's like offering Medicaid to everyone below a certain income level, and ordering everyone one else to purchase it. This is really just my interpretation of what I see happening in Washington, I don't see them adopting a Canadian system. The most likely outcome for our profession is none, everything stays the same. however, the Hinchey bill is different and a totally separate issue, now that will affect us. Regards, Angela Pfaffenberger, Ph.D. angelapfa www.InnerhealthSalem.com Phone: 503 364 3022 - heylaurag Chinese Medicine Tuesday, March 10, 2009 4:55 PM Re: fighting the MD/DO only insurance coverage of acupuncture Here in Seattle this isn't a big issue. But whenever I hear about it happening elsewhere I feel really riled up about it. If there is a way that I can help out let me know. Chinese Medicine , mystir <ykcul_ritsym wrote: > > Hi Joni. I don't know much about the process, but it see me to me that if insurance companies covered Ac decently, everyone would benefit. I'm interested. > > --- On Tue, 3/10/09, Joni Kroll, D.Ac. <acujoni wrote: > Joni Kroll, D.Ac. <acujoni > fighting the MD/DO only insurance coverage of acupuncture > Chinese Medicine > Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 2:00 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > I would like to connect up with other L.Ac.'s interested in challenging and changing the policy of certain insurance companies who only cover acupuncture when it is performed by an MD or DO. I live in Hawaii and played a lead role in the 1993 legislation that does not exempt MD's, DO's or DC's from our practice act (meaning anyone wanting to practice acupuncture in Hawaii must graduate from accredited TCM schools and pass the NCCAOM exam, no shortcuts). By the way, every few years a group of MD's put forth a bill in the legislature trying to reverse this, thus it is an onging issue. One of their strongest arguments continues to be that Hawaii is the odd ball state, the only state with this " restriction. " > > > > Even here, where MD's practicing acupuncture without full licensure is illegal, I am faced with mainland insurance companies that deny my patients coverage because I'm not an MD/DO. I want to work with others to change that. I can go through our Insurance Commission here locally to show that in Hawaii this policy basically nullifies the patients benefit as MD's can practice acupuncture (unless they are a L.Ac.), but if I'm going to put forth the effort, perhaps a national effort would effectively improve things for all L.Ac.'s wishing to participate with insurance. > > > > Has anyone else out there successfully fought this issue or is willing to work with me on this? Is anyone from the AAAOM working on this issue already? > > > > Aloha, > > Joni Kroll, L.Ac. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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