Acupuncture as an Essential Health Benefit - Public Input!
6,069 Letters and Emails Sent So Far
Essential Health Benefits: In 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, a health insurance reform law intended to ensure access to quality and affordable health insurance for all Americans. Starting in 2014, most health plans will be required to offer a comprehensive package of items and services to patients, known as "essential health benefits” (EHB). Under the new law, EHB must cover certain specific services including emergency services, maternity and newborn care, prescription drugs as well as preventive and wellness services, among others.
The AAAOM strongly supports designating acupuncture as an EHB. Our full position statement is available in the Governance section of our website at aaaomonline.org. If you are able to contribute financial support to this effort, which will be solely used to further publicize and generate action on this issue, please click here or contact us. To participate in committee work or related research projects, please contact us at info@aaaomonline.org.
Public Input is Needed: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently accepting input regarding their approach to establishing EHBs. A strong public show of support for acupuncture as an essential health benefit will be noticed by policymakers and will lay a solid foundation for future federal acupuncture initiatives.
Take action now: Ask your patients to send an email to the address below to show their support for EHB. Also, send your own email as a patient showing your support. Emails should request that acupuncture be designated as an essential benefit service and should share the benefits of acupuncture and its cost effectiveness.
To send a message to HHS, visit aaaomonline.org/ehb or send an email directly to: EssentialHealthBenefits@cms.hhs.gov and carbon copy EHB@aaaomonline.org so that we can track the letters sent. The deadline for comments is January 31, 2012.
Thank you for your support of our efforts to serve our profession. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact AAAOM at 1-866-455-7999, extension 3, or info@aaaomonline.org.
Enter Your Name and Submit to Sign
Complementary medical care will reduce costs and help achieve better health overall. There are scientific studies that back up these claims. What are we waiting for?
Not only is acupuncture efficacious it is also a cost effective form of pain management that is vitally needed in this opiate addicted country.
This is long overdue!!
Our health care system is a disgrace. I pay a huge monthly fee for my family's insurance. It does not cover the pediatrician visits, my emergency ENT hospitalization and office visit, let alone any acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, etc.which is much more effective than allopathic medicine.
Have dealt with chronic illness for over 2 years and current healthcare choices are not helpful. Alternative medical has been helpful, but my doctors do not support and rather push more medications with horrible side effects.
It is time to include Acupuncture and alternative medical care in our healthcare choices.
View activity report
People signing this petition: Browse all signers