By Tina Beychok, Associate Editor
There seems to be no doubt that one of the major issues facing the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession is that of first professional doctorate (FPD), which would be a doctorate degree that prepares a graduate for working in the AOM field, by emphasizing competency skills along with theory and analysis. A new survey conducted by the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) has found the scales tipping toward favoring the first professional doctorate degree for AOM.
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By Samuel A. Collins
Question: I have gotten a request for a refund of money from Blue Cross, stating that I coded my acupuncture services improperly. I am not sure they are accurate about my coding having an error and that any refund is due. I coded for my acupuncture services with 97810 (manual acupuncture, initial set) and 97813 (electro-acupuncture, initial set). As a general protocol I perform both manual and electroacupuncture on each visit. Is this not the correct way to code for that type of service?
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By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc
The flow of qi is one of the basic constituents of the human body and its functions; our body's ability to make quality qi is essential to good health. We know that qi is the product of the activities of, and communication between, the zang and fu organs. Therefore, it makes sense that having the ability to examine that flow in the pulses would be key to making an accurate diagnosis.
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By John Amaro, LAc, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), FIAMA, DC
Without question, some of the most dynamic acupuncture points on the human body are known as the Hua Tuo Jia Ji points. These points, philosophically and clinically, may effectively treat every condition of the human system. They are extremely easy to locate and use. They respond not only to the acupuncture needle but through any type of percussion such as a neurological reflex hammer, Wartenberg pin wheel, tuning fork, green and red laser, percussive instrument, gua sha, tei shein (noninvasive needle) or firm digital pressure. Any form of stimulation works absolute wonders in clinical practice.
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