Acupuncture FAQs

Acupuncture can be helpful for just about any health condition. It is a great front-line therapy to try before more invasive or intensive options are committed to such as surgeries or long-term medications. Acupuncture is also helpful in conjunction with other therapies. Over the years the evidence base showing the effectiveness of acupuncture has grown exponentially. The list of conditions for which studies show acupuncture is effective is extensive. These include: PAIN - All kinds Acute or Chronic - arthritis, fibromyalgia, sciatica, plantar fascitis, tennis elbow, sprains/strains, TMJ… Also… Addictions - cigarettes, drugs Allergies Asthma Chemotherapy and radiation side-effects Chronic illness - Lyme, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Auto-immune… Digestion - constipation, diarrhea, bloat, GERD Ear/Nose/Throat Issues Eye issues Headaches/Migraines High Blood Pressure/Cholesterol Immune support Insomnia Men’s health - prostate issues, fertility, erectile function Mental Health Support - anxiety, depression, PTSD… Nausea/Vomiting Neuropathies Obesity Stroke recovery Women’s Health - period pain, hot flashes, hormone balancing, fertility, pregnancy …and more

Maybe. It depends on your particular plan. Dansville Acupuncture Center is NOT IN-NETWORK with any insurance plans, meaning we do not enter contracts with the insurance companies to gain access to their members in return for payments set by the insurance company. We do not bill insurance companies directly. Many insurance plans do offer their members partial coverage of service fees for OUT-OF-NETWORK services. In this case, members submit their own claims for services for reimbursement by their insurance. We are happy to provide you with a “Superbill" receipt that includes the insurance information necessary for you to be reimbursed if you choose to submit a claim to your insurance company yourself. We try to make the process a simple as possible. Payment for services to Dansville Acupuncture Center is made by you at the time of service in full. We do not control how much your insurance will reimburse you. That is a contract between you and your insurance company. We believe in honest, transparent transactions between practitioners and patients at Dansville Acupuncture Center. We try to keep our prices as low as possible and you know exactly what the fees are when you make your appointment. Our treatment plans are not dictated by insurance company protocols for what they will allow and pay for. Instead, we provide the best treatments possible based upon professional education, research, and experience. By not billing insurance, we can take the time needed to fully understand and treat your conditions appropriately. As a result, our fees are lower than what we would have to charge if we had to hire staff to deal with insurance companies and time-consuming billing processes.

This is complicated. Yes, as of January 2024, Medicare covers THE SERVICE of acupuncture ONLY for chronic low back pain for 20 visits a year. However, Medicare does not recognize Licensed Acupuncturists (LAc’s) as approved providers under the Social Security Act - and that takes an act of Congress to change. Therefore, a LAc cannot directly bill Medicare, nor can Medicare pay a LAc. It is a loophole we have been trying to change unsuccessfully for over a decade, with our bills in Congress to amend the Social Security act to add LAc's to the list of approved providers being perpetually turned down. So, acupuncture is covered by Medicare for chronic low back pain...but independent Licensed Acupuncturists are not. Only medical doctors (MDs) with additional certification to provide acupuncture may bill and be paid through their Medicare Provider IDs. This is illogical considering a Licensed Acupuncturist has an independent Masters’ or Doctorate degree and has passed national board exams to become licensed with 2000-3000 hours of academic and clinical training in acupuncture theory, diagnostics and technique. In contrast, a Medical Doctor completes a 300 hour course that includes some basic protocols to obtain their certificate to provide acupuncture. Some supplemental plans to Medicare do offer coverage, but these vary. As with regular insurance, we offer Superbill receipts with the needed codes for patients to submit on their own for whatever reimbursement they can get with their individual plans.

Acupuncture needles are very fine filiform needles that are much smaller than typical needles used for injections or blood draws. They are comparable to cat whiskers. Sometimes needle insertion is barely felt at all. Other times the needle insertions are felt as a mild poke or sting. Occasionally small nerves and vessels are touched by the needles, and this can be mildly painful. Nothing needs to hurt to work, and your communication is essential. If anything is more painful than a mosquito bite and doesn’t go away after a few seconds, tell the acupuncturist, and the needle will be adjusted to be painless. Once needles are all inserted, people sometimes experience sensations such as a mild dull ache, or a tickle/itch, or a tingle at the site of a needle. These are sensations of the needle interacting with the Qi/energy of the body. Anything that is felt is OK, unless it is painful or so distracting that you cannot relax. In that case, communicate your discomfort and again, the needle will be adjusted until it is comfortable enough for you to rest.

It is best to wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the areas of the body needed. Loose sleeves that can go over elbows and pants that can go above the knees are ideal. If we use points on the torso, sheets are provided for draping. It is advisable to eat a little before acupuncture and be properly hydrated as best as possible to avoid light-headedness. Resting time once the needles are inserted ranges 30-45minutes, so be prepared for appointments to be about an hour with consult time.

The most common side-effects are positive - you may have more energy, feel more relaxed, sleep better, digest better, and have less pain. Occasionally people might feel a little light-headed when circulation and flow are restored. This is temporary. The most common negative side-effects may include some lingering discomfort at a needle site (dull ache, or tingling) and bruising. Rarely, people may feel faint and need to rest longer after needles are removed. The remote possibilities of nerve damage, infection from contaminated needles, or organ puncture are extremely rare (as in virtually non-existent when acupuncture is provided by a qualified, licensed acupuncturist) but legally must be stated as possible. There have been very few incidents of such injuries, most commonly when acupuncture has been provided by persons who are not licensed acupuncturists, but are practitioners of other modalities who attempt to do acupuncture with less training under other names such as "Dry Needling". When using other modalities within the scope of acupuncture, the following side-effect risks exist: For cupping/Gua sha - bleeding and bruising or redness that can last a few days to a week. For Moxibustion - burns. For Herbal Medicine - allergic reactions, digestive upsets, or worsening of symptoms requiring a reassessment and change in formulation.