acupuncture resources, courses needles and gadgets day 3
TRANSCRIPT
Acupuncture Resources, Courses Needles and Gadgets
Day 3
First, let’s see courses…• Acupuncture for Physicians Wilson Memorial Regional Medical
Center 33-57 Harrison Street Johnson City, NY 13790 (607) 763-5334• Acupuncture Integrative Medicine Program Tri-State College of
Acupuncture 80 Eighth Avenue, Ste 400 New York, NY 10011 (212) 242-2255 Director: Mark D. Seem, PhD, LAc
• The Art and Science of Acupuncture: Basic and Advanced University of Miami PO Box 016960 (D-79) Miami, FL 33101 (305) 243-4751
• Medical Acupuncture at Downstate SUNY Downstate Medical Center 450 Clarkson Ave, Box 1244 Brooklyn, NY 11203 (718) 270-4563 Director: Tsai C. Chao, MD
• Medical Acupuncture for Physicians Helms Medical Institute 2520 Milvia St Berkeley, CA 94704 (510) 649-8488 http://www.hmieducation.com Director: Joseph Helms, MD, FAAMA
• Acupuncture for Physicians Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education Boston, MA (781) 391-7518 ext 240
About needles
• Depends on what you want to treat!• If you want to treat piriformis syndrome, you
need LARGE needles. METAL HANDLE!!• So size wise:• 1 inch: Delicate areas: NECK• 1.5 inch and 2 inches: MOST OF THE BODY• 3 inches and even larger: HIP and BUTTOCK
How far do we go in?
• Each point has got it’s own depth.
• However, we look for De Qi:• A grab…• An electric sensation… The patient will tell
you!
About quality• Chinese: Poor quality ( KINGLI )…. BUT
CHEAP!!!: 4-5$ a box of 100 needles.
• Japanese: Superb steel. BUT EXPENSIVE: 13-17$ a box of 100 needles.
THERE ARE MANY “ IN BETWEEN”.
GOAL: The needle shouldn’t hurt at going in!
With Tubes and without!
• Depends on your preference and if they exist!
• I prefer them with tube.
What do you need to set up a small practice?
• Treatment tables: http://www.livingearthcrafts.com/
• Paper rolls/towels• TIMER: Keep a record of treatment length!• Music• Acupuncture Charts for décor/Bamboo plants• Medicare/ TRICARE/ALL INSURANCES self
payment forms.*
Where to buy needles?
• Lhasa OMS: www.lhasaoms.com
• Go Acupuncture: www.goacupuncture.com
What do you need to set up a small practice? #2
• Infrarred Heat, Moxa Rolls, Ear stimulator/Finders
• Electrical Stimulators
Coding and Insurance
• MEDICARE RECOGNIZES 4 SPECIFIC CODES FOR ACUPUNCTURE:
• 1. 97810: Acupuncture first 15 min• 2. 97811: Acupuncture next 15 min• 3. 97813: Acupuncture with electricity 15min• 4. 97814: Acupuncture with electricity +15min
Caveat: IT WILL NOT PAY FOR IT
• 1. 97810: Acu first 15 min: 60$• 2. 97811: Acu next 15 min: 50$• 3. 97813: Acu with electricity 15min: 80$• 4. 97814: Acu with electricity +15min: 70$• 5. 97016: Cupping: <10$• 6. 97014: Electricity without needles: <15$• 7. 97026: Infrared Heat: <10$
• SO A USUAL TREATMENT: 3+4+7: 175$ for about 30-45 minutes.
You can always code:
• 99213 or 99214 on TOP of your acupuncture code. It is considered a NON REIMBURSED procedure by MEDICARE and most East Coast Insurances.
• Use a -25 modifier as any other procedure.
• If MEDICARE: Use Medicare WAIVER with a -GA modifier.
Medicare Waiver form
• Google: Advanced Beneficiary Notice
• PROCEDURE NAME AND CODE• THE ASSURANCE THAT THE PATIENT WILL BE
HELD RESPONSIBLE TO PAY IF INSURANCE DOESN’T.
97813 MEDICARE DOESN’T PAY 8097814 MEDICARE DOESN’T PAY 70
TIPS
• Start needling right away… otherwise YOU WILL FORGET!
• Start doing simple treatments! Gain confidence in yourself!
• Once convinced, try taking a full course ( 300 hours ).
• When you don’t have a clue: Refer out to an experienced practitioner!
TIPS #2: Advertisement
• 1. Before you advertise you do acupuncture BEGIN with your own regular patients!
• They are your best source of advertisement almost for free!
• ASK THEM: If there is any pain? Anxiety? Offer a first treatment for free! THEY WILL COME BACK!
TIPS #3:PRICING
• For CASH PAYING ONLY:• Be sure to ask how much your competition
charges… !• MEDICARE CAN MAKE THINGS COMPLICATED!
TIPS #4: YOUR PRACTICE
• BE SURE YOU HAVE EXPLORED A PATIENT’S DIAGNOSIS WELL.
• Example: 20 yo patient with a history of headaches… DO A FULL MEDICAL WORK UP.
FULL WORK UP BEFORE CHRONIC TREATMENT
Don’t Forget!!!
• If you miss a mass:
• YOU WILL BE SUED! For health professionals “not knowing” will not help you in a court of law.