A plea for acupuncture coverage.

PMID: 24080563

I was happy to see acupuncture recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes with neuropathy and other symptoms that have not fully responded to conventional therapy (Targeting diabetes: The benefits of an integrative approach. J Fam Pract. 2013;62:337-344). My wife is a board-certified Chinese acupuncturist and has successfully treated many patients with neuropathic symptoms.
While I’m delighted that Western medicine has finally acknowledged acupuncture as an adjunct to traditional therapy, I’m concerned about insurance coverage. It is still true that most health insurers (including Medicare) do not cover acupuncture, and most patients can’t afford to self-pay.
Our health care system can do better.
Phillip Kim, MD, MPH
Madera, CA