The Acupuncture Poll question for November 2002 was:
"What percentage of your practice consists of cash-paying patients who are not covered by insurance?"
Results:
These results are based upon 179 responses. As this is a voluntary, non-scientific survey, caution should be used in generalizing the results. Here is a sample of the comments made by those who took the survey and how they voted:
0-25%: I treat auto accident and HMO patients only, working in a large multispecialty clinic, and see an average of 80-90 patients a week. My referrals from the MDs in our clinic are increasing every week due to the growing interest in acupuncture/herbal medicine in the elderly population.
26-50%: Less than half of patients can't get any reimbursement for acupuncture mostly due to Medicare guidelines. Patients with coverage are more likely to continue care after initial symptoms are resolved.
For more information on the Acupuncture Poll, contact Acupuncture Today at editorial@acupuncturetoday.com.
When we talk about fertility, the focus is often placed on the ovaries and the uterus. Yet sperm-related factors contribute to nearly half of all cases of infertility. Whether someone is navigating fertility care alone or with a partner, and whether building a family through intercourse, IVI, IUI or IVF, it’s vital to include sperm health in the picture.
With some plans – and it starts with Medicare (CMS) – there is a payment protocol that may be referred to as a multi-therapy discount, but its official name is the multiple-procedure payment reduction (MPPR). If a health care provider performs multiple procedures during a single patient encounter, Medicare (and many commercial insurers) typically will pay “full price” for only the highest-valued procedure.
Our team of authors offer this paper (and this descriptive AT series) as a support for you as a professional, practitioner and member of the acupuncture community at large. We hope that it will serve to further the needs of acupuncturists everywhere and also act as a guide for those wishing to learn about Acupuncture Medicine – patients, healthcare decision makers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.