100 % COvered Acupunture treatmetn For Veterans

Did you know US Veterans now qualify for 100% covered acupuncture treatments through the Whole Health Program? Acupuncture has been covered by the VA for a number of years, through various programs, including the Veterans Choice Program, Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) is a network of community providers that the VA uses to refer Veterans for care outside of the VA, and the Mission Act.

In order for veterans to have their treatment covered, they must first obtain a Consult (referral) from the VA. This is typically achieved by requesting an acupuncture referral from the veteran's care provider at the VA. Veterans are often referred to East Lake Acupuncture by their primary care provider (PCP), neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, mental health (MH) provider, and even an endocrinologist or gastroenterologist (GI). 

Step One: Discuss your desire to try acupuncture with your provider at the VA. Some providers will require you to try physical therapy or a similar modality first, while others will immediately write the referral. Referrals, or consults, will depend on your provider. 

Step Two: The consult will be sent to the Community Care team, who will then contact you, and ask you which facility you wish to go to. If you are in our service area, you may request to be sent here. Some members of the Community Care team will "assign" you to an acupuncturist, though you can request to be assigned to the clinic of your choice, as long as they are in-network (we are). 

Step Three: The VA will fax a copy of your consult to us, and we will call you to schedule your first session. Sometimes the faxes get delayed, don't go through, so if you do not hear from us within 72 hours of the VA informing you of the approval of your consult, please call us and we will obtain a copy and schedule your visit.

Acupuncture is one of the complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches within the VHA Whole Health System of care. This allows acupuncture care to be covered by the Veteran’s medical benefits package, when clinically necessary, as determined by the patient’s care team.

Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) is a nation-wide network of community providers VA uses to refer Veterans to community care under specific circumstances. PC3 is intended to provide eligible Veterans with access to medical care when services are not readily available or accessible at their local VA medical facility.

Under the VA Mission Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to coordinate timely care including help for those who need VA medical services outside their region of residence. The VA is also tasked with making sure veterans “do not experience a lapse in health care services