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.
Martha Hall, DAOM, ACN, NCCAOM
Martha E. Hall is an acupuncturist and herbalist with a busy practice in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. She graduated with a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, and is a certified Applied Clinical Nutritionist. She holds a National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine certification and belongs to the International Foundation for Nutrition and Health.