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Medicare is scheduled to make a significant reduction in Medicare rates in 2021. CMS has proposed finalized changes to increase the reimbursement for the outpatient / office physician evaluation and management (E/M) CPT codes in CY 2021 (as proposed by the AMA), which will result in an approximately 8 percent…

Recent advances in our understanding of the anatomy of fascia reveal a high degree of correlation between fascial planes and acupuncture meridians. Taking an anatomical approach to understanding how connective tissues are organized between muscle groups, can give acupuncturists additional insights into treatment strategies and outcomes.

Approximately 76 million people nationwide suffer from pain, whether chronic, acute or postsurgical. Since 2017, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has recognized alternative therapies to treat and “reduce pain and the risk of opioid addiction,” including acupuncture. This was a significant step toward validating and integrating…

A variety of methods are available today for assessing pain. Of course, among these methods are the visual analog scale (VAS) and the numeric pain scale (NPS).

In the past decade, we have seen a burgeoning interest in cannabis, particularly as medicine. Many patients consider it to be a helpful intervention for many conditions, especially acute or chronic pain, anxiety and sleeplessness. There is special interest in cannabidiol (CBD), a less psychotropic chemical compound found in many…

The National Governors Association (NGA) recently released a 24-page report, “Expanding Access to Non-Opioid Management of Chronic Pain: Considerations for Governors,” recommending an integrative approach to pain, including acupuncture. The implications for our profession are far-reaching.

As acupuncturists and East Asian medicine providers continue to elevate our professional profile, we need to learn how to speak the common language of conventional biomedicine to network with other providers in the allopathic, osteopathic and allied health professions.

“I don’t know why North Americans are so obsessed with sexual abuse,” a global shiatsu school owner told me by phone. “It doesn’t happen in Japan.” Oh yeah? Groping (Chikan in Japanese) on commuter trains was so bad in Tokyo, women-only cars were created several decades ago, primarily at the…

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder and the major cause of disability in the adult population. The pathophysiology of the disease is characterized by progressive loss of articular cartilage, cartilage calcification, osteophyte formation, subchondral bone remodeling, and mild to moderate inflammation of the synovial lining. Simple “wear and…

The importance of digestive health is a key conversation to have with your patients during the winter months. During the colder months, we tend to eat heavier, rich, high-protein foods. From a TCM perspective, this type of diet may lead to patterns of food stagnation and spleen qi vacuity.

During my first year as the CEO of the NCCAOM, I have had the privilege to hear and learn from so many different members of our profession to include our applicants, candidates, school leaders and of course, our valued NCCAOM national board-certified acupuncturists. This experience confirmed my commitment to work…

The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism against external invaders: bacteria, viruses, parasites and more. To address a wide array of intricate microorganisms, the immune system’s response has to be equally as complex. But an extensive amount of research has been done over the years on the various inner…

As many of us transition back into private practice, I have received numerous comments from practitioners regarding the noted mental health impact of the coronavirus on today’s patients. The uncertainty and nagging anxieties caused by fear of the pandemic and its second-round effects (on employment, income, social and political stability,…

Musculoskeletal pain is common among cancer survivors and has the tendency to become chronic, particularly because acute pain is ignored or inadequately treated in favor of cancer care. In fact, often the pain begins during or even before a cancer diagnosis is made and doesn’t go away, even when the…

Medication, including opioids, is commonly prescribed following surgery; and many veterans deal with chronic pain with opioids, independent of surgery. Exciting new research suggests veteran surgical candidates who receive acupuncture prior to their procedure experience less postsurgical pain and are less likely to require opioids – a win-win for both…

Kara