Whether you accept it, avoid it or live somewhere in between, insurance coverage has become a defining issue for our profession. Patients increasingly expect to use their benefits, practitioners want to be compensated fairly for their time and expertise, and the system itself remains – at best – fragmented. The encouraging news is that coverage has expanded in meaningful ways. The challenging news is that reimbursement, across the board, remains inadequate.
JoAnn Tall, LAc
JoAnn Tall has been studying traditional Chinese medicine since 1972. She received her California acupuncture license in 1979 and her Doctor of Oriental Medicine degree in 1983. She was the director of the Santa Barbara branch campus of the California Acupuncture College from 1981 to 1986, and co-founded the Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine in 1986, where she has served as president since the schoolÕs inception. She also co-founded Healing Opportunities, a non-profit organization that promotes research, treatment and education in the field of integrative medicine. She maintains a private practice in Santa Barbara, and is involved in research concerning hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.