1. Acupuncture Resources, Courses Needles and Gadgets Day 3

2. 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 http://www.hmieducation.com Acupuncture for Physicians Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education Boston, MA (781) 391-7518 ext 240

3. 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

4. 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!

7. 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!

9. With Tubes and without! Depends on your preference and if they exist! I prefer them with tube.

11. What do you need to set up a small practice? Treatment tables: http://www.livingearthcrafts.com/ 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.*

12. Where to buy needles? Lhasa OMS: www.lhasaoms.comwww.lhasaoms.com Go Acupuncture: www.goacupuncture.comwww.goacupuncture.com

14. What do you need to set up a small practice? #2 Infrarred Heat, Moxa Rolls, Ear stimulator/Finders Electrical Stimulators

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 97813 MEDICARE DOESN’T PAY 80 97814 MEDICARE DOESN’T PAY70

22. 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!

23. 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!

24. TIPS #3:PRICING For CASH PAYING ONLY: Be sure to ask how much your competition charges… ! MEDICARE CAN MAKE THINGS COMPLICATED!

25. 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.

26. 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.