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.
John Donald, LAc
John Donald, LAc, maintains a private practice in Issaquah, Wash. He is an adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University, where he teaches practice management, and is a former board member for the Acupuncture Association of Washington. He also is the author of a book on insurance billing titled Insurance Billing For CAM Providers: A Survival Guide For Alternative Health Practitioners.