Keywords: Affordable health care act, “Obamacare”, insurance coverage for acupuncture, non-discrimination in health care, essential health benefits
The patient protection and affordable care act
The Affordable Care Act, (ACA), also nicknamed "Obamacare", while long and complex had some important nods to integrative medicine.
The Act noted that integrative medicine, which includes acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage (not all therapies listed) decreases the overall cost of healthcare. Integrative medicine decreases complications from surgery, improves recovery rates, and improves quality of life. It is based on a wellness model and that the maintenence of wellness is paramount to life and prevention of chronic disease. The Act noted that chronic disease has been on the rise in the U.S. in the past few decades and that a wellness model for medicine is much needed. [For more about this discussion, I recommend the
Escape Fire documentary (
rated by Roger Ebert) and the
Bravewell Collaborative.]
The conclusion of this recognition of integrative medicine as national way to reduce health care costs was to require integrative medicine therapies be available as an option to all Americans. This aspect of the federal act broke down when the states were allowed to pick and choose what they wanted to name as essential health benefits as their state version of the federal ACA. Most states picked only a few of the therapies. I do not think any state picked all possible integrative medicine therapies.
So, how the ACA/Obamacare works in your state and your access to integrative medicine as covered care varies greatly by state. The Act directly affects those Americans who are on "the Exchange", the new federal-state insurance coverage (now in its toddler years) versus a private insurer.
Acupuncture is an Essential Health Benefit in 6 states
Essential Health Benefits, Section 2707.
Acupuncture is an Essential Health Benefit (EHB) in 6 states:
Alaska
California
Maryland
New Mexico
Washington
New Jersey—but limited to services in lieu of anesthesia
The paraphrased reference from ACA:
Section 2707. Comprehensive insurance coverage. (a) Coverage for essential health benefits package. –a health insurance issuer that offers health insurance coverage in the individual or small group market shall ensure that such coverage includes the essential health benefits package required
In Washington state, the EHB is as follows:
Acupuncture 12 visits/year and unlimited for ddx of substance abuse
Chiropractic manipulation 10 visits/year
Rehabilitation 25 visits
Diagnostics—no limits (E&M)
Preventative care—no limits
This is mandatory on individual “exchange” policies. Non-exchange policies may not have same benefits
In Washington state, the "every category of provider" law also applies:
RCW 48.43.045
The Non-Discrimination in Health Care 2706
Basically, if your health care plan covers acupuncture performed by a physician but not by a L.Ac./EAMP, then that health care plan is discriminating and not compliant with federal law.
Non-Discrimintation 2706—scope of practice (physical medicine
and rehabilitation services, E&M, nutrition, etc)
Section 2706
Non-discrimination in health care.
(a)
Providers.
–a group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or
individual health insurance coverage shall not discriminate with respect to
participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who
is acting within the scope of that provider’s license or certification under
applicable State law.
2706 applies when:
Payment is equal for services
and not based on provider
Services done by an L.Ac.
within scope cannot be limited differently from other providers
An insurer or group health plan
cannot deny specific forms of care provided by an L.Ac. when those services are
within scope and covered with other providers
LAc.s as a profession cannot be
excluded as a group from participation in a network’s plan.
Technical jargon
Plenty of technical stuff above.
Generally, the world of insurance can be a maze to navigate. Paying out of pocket for services is an option and used to be the only option 50-100 years ago in our country.
coverage by insurance--Remember: insurance companies cover procedures and
private insurers do this arbitrarily in the U.S. CMS (Medicare—a federal insurance) goes
through a data collection process to determine code value and then goes through
[some process] to determine whether or not it will cover a procedure, etc.
