Acupuncture For Chronic Low Back Pain Soon Covered By Medicare!
- Posted on: Jan 23 2020
Recognizing acupunctures effectiveness to reduce low back pain, on January 21, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS) has finalized a decision to cover acupuncture in certain locations for patients with chronic low back pain!!
This decision regarding coverage takes into account how effective acupuncture is for many people (but not all) , who suffer from low back pain. While only a small number adults over age 65 have been enrolled in published double blind acupuncture studies, the studies that do exist showed clearly that acupuncture is effective in reducing or eliminating chronic low back pain – and when combined with Chiropractic and Physical Therapy, often produces spectacular results!!
This was also meant to address the opioid public health crisis. “ Expanding options for pain treatment is a key piece of the Trump Administrations strategy for defeating our countries opioid crisis,” said HHS secretary Alex Azar. “ We are dedicated to increasing access to alternatives to prescription opioids and believe that this decision to cover acupuncture for low back pain will provide Medicare beneficiaries with a new effective option at their disposal to help them deal with chronic pain.”
Currently, acupuncture is the only covered by Medicare at select trial locations – these sites will provide Medicare with an idea as to the effectiveness and cost, with plans to expand the program nation wide in the near future. In the mean time, many private health care plans, currently cover acupuncture, and here at APMR acupuncture services are offered at discount prices to help bring this wonderful therapy to the masses. So the next time someone suggests drugs for our chronic low back pain, think of acupuncture first; thousands of years of use, along with millions of satisfied patients and now the federal government cannot all be wrong, Acupuncture for chronic low back pain is often effective, even if other modalities were tried and failed!
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Posted in: Acupuncture
