The ASA and the NCCAOM Endorse H.R. 1667, the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act of 2025
DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Editor's Note: Submitted by Molly Ford, NCCAOM director of government relations.
The Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act would increase Medicare beneficiaries’ access to acupuncturists, provide more non-pharmacological options for pain relief, and enable growth of the acupuncture profession.
Washington, D.C., February 28, 2025 – The American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) applaud U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) for re-introducing the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act, H.R. 1667, in the 119th Congress. This bill would authorize the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to recognize qualified acupuncturists as Medicare providers so they can provide covered acupuncture services to Seniors.
While acupuncture becomes increasingly integrated into U.S. healthcare models, current policy prevents many Americans from receiving care from the most appropriate providers. Medicare’s current coverage of acupuncture for chronic lower back pain highlights these barriers as most Seniors cannot access acupuncturists because they do not have Medicare-provider status. Acupuncturists are licensed to practice independently and treat all patients for an array for acupuncture services. However, current policy prevents acupuncturists from treating Seniors for chronic lower back pain because of their lack of Medicare-provider status.
H.R. 1667, the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act, would remove the barrier currently in place so Seniors can access acupuncturists and align Medicare coverage policy more with state licensure policy. “There is no time more critical than now to remove barriers to acupuncturists so they can provide covered acupuncture services to Medicare beneficiaries,” said Mina Larson, M.S., MBA, CAE, NCCAOM CEO. Current barriers push Seniors toward invasive surgeries and opioid reliance, to the detriment of their long-term health. Increasing access to acupuncturists will help improve healthcare outcomes and reduce healthcare spending for chronic conditions. The NCCAOM applauds the work that Representatives Judy Chu and Brian Fitzpatrick are doing in Congress to move the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act forward so Seniors have access to the most appropriate providers.
Research demonstrates that acupuncture is effective in providing high quality, personalized care that helps individuals manage pain—without opioids and invasive procedures—and embrace preventive and wellness care options. Acupuncturists’ training, expertise, and scope of practice enable them to practice independently. The resulting access barrier prevent the most appropriate provider of acupuncture services—acupuncturists—from providing care to those who need it most. These barriers hurts Senior Citizens and exacerbates healthcare.
"The number of Medicare beneficiaries is projected to grow from 63 to 80 million over the next seven years. At the same time, this population currently has limited access to the practitioners with the most specific and advanced training who can provide non-pharmacological acupuncture treatments," said Olivia Hsu Friedman, DACM, L.Ac., ASA Chair. "This bill is crucial in removing that barrier, ensuring broader direct access to acupuncturists, and expanding options for safe, effective pain management. The ASA commends Representative Judy Chu, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, and all those involved for their leadership in addressing the opioid crisis while reducing healthcare costs and improving long-term health outcomes."
The ASA and the NCCAOM wish to thank Reps. Chu and Fitzpatrick for their ongoing leadership on this issue in Congress and look forward to moving H.R. 1667 forward in the 119th Congress.
The Mission of the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) is to promote the highest standards of professional practice for acupuncture and EAM in the United States, to benefit public health. Through strengthening the profession at the state level while promoting collaboration nationally and internationally, the ASA provides its members, the public, legislators, and regulators resources for ensuring the best expression of this ancient and modern medicine.
Another approach to regulate the Yang Ming / Tai Yin circuit is to use an extraordinary vessel (EOV) approach. EOV treatments can be essential in a long-haul post-viral state, as they can help restore integrity to the body’s energetic system on the deepest level. Various combinations can be helpful; however, combining Chong Mai with Ren Mai is a good place to start, as it can help to regulate the gut (Chong Mai) and the lungs (Ren Mai).
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Joseph Audette, MD, MA;
Sam Audette, LAc, Dipl. OM
The NCCAOM is excited to announce the completion of its 2023-2024 Job Analysis (JA) Executive Summary report. The JA is a pivotal initiative aimed at defining the core knowledge, skills, and abilities required for competent practice in the acupuncture and herbal medicine profession. The data collected from this survey is essential for updating the NCCAOM exam content outlines at the entry-to-practice level, ensuring the certification exams are relevant, fair, and legally defensible.
As we move into the Year of the Snake, let’s embrace the snake’s deep-thinking nature and ask ourselves four important questions, all of which relate to a single journey: advocating for our medicine by educating others about its value. Now is the time for all acupuncturists to come together to strengthen the profession, share knowledge, advocate for advancement – and help more patients access you as a vital element of their whole-health care.
