Before Your First Visit
Forms
Please sign the Consent and Office Policies forms in our patient portal Acusimple (create an account, Forms tab).
Secondly, you may also fill out the INTAKE FORMS here
The forms may require 15-30 minutes to complete thoroughly. Some questions may seem unrelated to your current health challenges, but even subtle clues about your health history can provide me with meaningful information to tailor your treatment. If you are not able to do this in advance, please show 30 minutes prior to your appointment to complete them in office.
Payment and Insurance
Some patients choose to pay for acupuncture at time of service because it is outside of their insurance plan benefits.
Many health insurance plans include acupuncture as a covered benefit. I am in-network with the following, and can usually bill these payers directly:
HealthPartners
Medica
UnitedHealthCare / Optum
Humana (Low Back Pain only)
UCARE
BCBS--most plans (Platinum Blue is not billable)
Minnesota Health Care Programs (MN Medicaid and MNCare)
VA Community Care Programs
Medicare does not cover acupuncture as a benefit when provided by independent Licensed Acupuncturists. Medicare coverage for low back pain may only be filed when the services are conducted under the supervision of an MD. Supplemental policies follow this same guidance, with the exception of Humana and Medica, which I can bill. If you have a secondary policy to Medicare, you may have acupuncture benefits.
Worker's Compensation cases or Private Injury (automobile) insurance cases are no longer accepted. A Superbill can be provided to assist with your reimbursement submission. For other insurances, I can bill these payers directly if you have out of network benefits.
Payments
Accepted payment methods for treatments, copayments, or supplements include check or cash, HSA/FSA/HRA cards and credit cards.
Acupuncture is a qualified medical expense for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) per IRS publication 502. Patients are responsible for checking on the specific rules of their Flex Spending Account (FSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) prior to using such cards.
Insurance Verification
If you would like to use your insurance, your coverage for acupuncture will need to be verified prior to the first appointment. If you have not verified benefits, please plan to pay at time of service. (Exception: Riverwood employees or family members with HealthPartners do not need to call).
Please ask and record the following:
Date of Verification Call __________________ Customer Service Rep_______________
Are acupuncture benefits included in my plan? Yes / No
Is my condition covered? Yes / No
Is a referral by my Primary Care Physician required? Yes / No
Is a Prior Authorization required? Yes / No
How much of my deductible is remaining? $____________
What is my copay or coinsurance (after deductible is met)? $_________ / _________%
Are there limitations on number of visits per year? Yes / No # _____ visits
Medicare plans only: Are acupuncture services covered when provided by a Licensed Acupuncturist not under supervision of Medical Doctor? Yes / No
You may also enter the following information directly into our secure patient portal ('Forms' tab, click to edit insurance information).
We no longer accept Automobile Injury or Workers Compensation insurance. I can provide you a super bill for which you can apply for reimbursement.
FAQs
What Is the Cost of the First Visit?
The initial exam cost is typically $75 for those who pay at time of service. A deposit is required when scheduling the appointment.
Your practitioner will thoroughly review your intake forms, ask about your health history and many details about your symptoms and reasons for seeking treatment. You will also receive a nutritional assessment using Nutrition Response Testing(R). Then you will be provided with an initial treatment plan.
If your exam takes longer than 30 minutes, then the cost of the initial exam would range from $105 - 130, in order to be consistent with health insurance law.
What if My Insurance Covers the Cost of Initial Exam?
Your $75 deposit will then be applied to any deductible, copays and/or supplements. After your insurance makes payment, any amounts in excess will be refunded to you.
What Can I Expect During an Acupuncture Treatment?
Please arrive for your acupuncture appointment having consumed a meal within the previous few hours. I will review your intake form, discuss your condition, your goals, and ask some clarifying questions. Then you will lie comfortably on a massage table. The acupuncture points I choose will depend on your condition, but you can expect about 20 needles. Once the needles are inserted, I will leave you to rest comfortably for 25-30 minutes with the needles in place. You will have a call button if needed, but it is not uncommon for patients to fall asleep during this time.
What Does Acupuncture Feel Like?
Acupuncture needles are tiny. They are sterile, single-use, and flexible. You may or may not feel a slight sharp sensation with insertion, and then your body normalizes the presence of the needle such that you may have awareness of it, but no pain. Most people find acupuncture treatment deeply relaxing.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The benefits of acupuncture take time and repetition. A series of 12 treatments should be expected, and you will likely start feeling better within the first few treatments. Some patients need more than 12 treatments, some less. After the corrective care phase, many patients like to schedule preventative treatments or treatments for general well-being.
Do I Need a Referral?
Typically you do not need a referral from your physician, however potentially serious disorders should always be examined and diagnosed first by a licensed medical doctor.
How Safe is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture has a strong record of safety, and millions of Americans receive sessions every year. But as with all things in life, there are some attendant risks. These are outlined in the Consent Form, and I am happy to answer your questions in clinic. Acupuncturists undergo extensive education, including detailed study of human anatomy and training in Clean Needle Technique. I have passed comprehensive national board examinations administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and am licensed by the Minnesota Medical Board.
Are You Ready to Transform and Return to What You Love?
Aitkin Acupuncture at Riverwood Healthcare Center
brown log building
601 Bunker Hill Drive, Aitkin MN
Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs, Select Fri/Sat
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