Due to the decades of research and inarguable evidence for the efficacy and clinical benefit of acupuncture in the treatment of low back pain, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a decision to cover #acupuncture for Medicare patients with chronic low back pain.

“ 'We are dedicated to increasing access to alternatives to prescription opioids and believe that covering acupuncture for chronic low back pain is in the best interest of Medicare patients,' said CMS Principal Deputy Administrator of Operations and Policy Kimberly Brandt. ...

Acupuncture is a treatment in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body, most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. As with other complex diseases, CMS recognizes the importance of having treatment options which allow for an integrated approach that is tailored to the needs and preferences of Medicare patients. Today’s decision will cover up to 12 sessions in 90 days with an additional 8 sessions for those patients with chronic low back pain who demonstrate improvement."

We are excited to see science meet with history and the folding of acupuncture into the larger medical system so more patients can have access to the treatment.