Chronic pain afflicts over 20% of the adult population. Sadly, most MDs have essentially no education in treating pain, beyond offering a few toxic medications. Then they tend to steer people with pain away from those health practitioners who are trained. This puts the acupuncture community on the front lines for addressing this epidemic.
Medicare Acupuncture Bill Update
In the November 2004 issue, we reported that HR 1477, the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act, had amassed a total of 54 co-sponsors. Since that article was published, an additional nine co-sponsors have signed on to support the legislation.
The new co-sponsors (as of October 1, 2004) are:
- Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR, 3rd District)
- Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA, 14th District)
- Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY, 2nd District)
- Rep. Darrell E. Issa (R-CA, 49th District)
- Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY, 14th District)
- Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY, 4th District)
- Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA, 37th District)
- Rep. Major R. Owens (D-NY, 11th District)
- Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-VA, 10th District)
Make sure to visit AcupunctureToday.com for additional updates on the status of HR 1477.