Durham Acupuncture Associates

02/22/2022

https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2022/02/16/changes-to-va-caregiver-programs-being-reconsidered-amid-complaints/

Thousands of families are could lose monthly stipends amid an overhaul of the program that started last fall.

06/30/2020

The latest news for you from Durham Acupuncture Associates

06/08/2020

May we all have the courage to "invest" in ourselves.🤩

May we all have the courage to invest in our life!

06/01/2020

For the safety of our patients and for the respect of the City/County of Durham we have the following office policy in place. As always if you have questions or concerns please call us at 919-750-0027.

05/23/2020

This weekend we are reminded of the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

04/11/2019

We are pleased to announce that S 544, Establish Non-Opioid Treatment Alternatives, was introduced yesterday by Sen. Ralph Hise (R-McDowell) and Sen. Danny Britt (R-Robeson).

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2019/S544

The bill requires insurance coverage for non-opioid pain management care. Acupuncture is included as one of the non-opioid treatment options.

The filing of this bill is a testament to the conversations and educational efforts the Association has been involved in with legislators over the past several years. It is an indication that legislators are beginning to understand that patients need access to alternative pain management treatment and acupuncture is a great solution.

While, this is a huge win for the Association and the profession, it is important to remember that this will be an uphill battle and it is extremely difficult to get a bill across the finish line. We will continue to educate members and engage in conversations with other stakeholders. We will keep you updated on any progress the bill makes.

Sincerely:

NCSAAM & Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

04/05/2019

Are you confused about the difference between Acupuncture and Dry Needling?

It's really just a question of application. To learn more here is a report from the American Society of Acupuncturist:

http://www.asacu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ASA-Acupuncture-and-Dry-Needling-Myth-Versus-Fact-2018.pdf

03/28/2019

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Pain Management Best Practices Task Force
Open Comment Period End 04/01/2019

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Pain Management Best Practices Task Force recently wrote a report entitled, “Draft Report on Pain Management Best Practices: Updates, Gaps, Inconsistencies, and Recommendations.” This report is open for public comment until Monday, April 1, 2019.
The Good News: In this draft, the Task Force very strongly recommends a multidisciplinary approach to pain management, including Complementary and Integrative Health, behavioral health/psychological interventions, as well as restorative movement therapies. Acupuncture is specifically named. This document more clearly and positively includes many types of integrative health providers than any report previously put forth.
The Bad News: Many who are not supportive of integrative approaches are submitting comments arguing for a continued reliance on pharmacological approaches to pain.
How you are needed NOW: This report represents a quantum leap in HHS pain policy, and as an acupuncturist, it is imperative that you, and as many of us as possible in the Complementary and Integrative Health community as possible, respond positively to the call for public comment.
What this means: The Complementary and Integrative Health Community needs to submit as many positive comments as possible before the April 1st deadline. It would be ideal if we could send in hundreds of comments.
Please help – while there are ways that the draft report could be enhanced, the focus of our comments needs to be positive. Numerous integrative health organizations have submitted suggestions to enhance the HHS document, so for this call HHS just needs to see that there is solid public support for their approach. You do NOT need to critique the document!
Steps for submitting a comment:
1. Please review the sample bullets below to get an idea of what’s needed. You can use this as a template for your own comment.
2. Please state one or more of the comments in your own words
3. Send your comment to paintaskforce@hhs.gov
Please Note:
1. Submit comments by April 1, 2019.
2. Refer to docket number: HHS-OS-2018-0027.
3. Identify yourself as a patient, or representative of an organization with your name and title.
Our community needs to be represented in future clinical practice guidelines, government policy documents, and reports such as this. Once a report such as this is accepted, there will be future opportunities to build on the progress.
Sample statements:
1. Your report represents a leap forward in acute and chronic pain management. I am in strong support of this approach.
2. As a ________________, I appreciate your recommendation of a multimodal approach to pain and the use of the biopsychosocial model.
3. My patients have benefited from acupuncture and integrative care in their management of pain. Making this care more available is critical to the success of our country in overcoming the opioid epidemic.
4.Thank you for the time and effort you put into writing this tremendous document. We have relied for too long on opioids to treat pain, and that has lead to countless deaths and lives damaged. Let’s move beyond that narrow and ineffective view.
Sincerely,
(your Name)

11/09/2018

Terry James, Deputy Director, National Intrepid Center of Excellence Blanchfield Army Community Hospital. James has suffered from chronic migraines for more than 12 years, and has tried Botox injections to no effect. He says that standard acupuncture gave him immediate relief from his symptoms, but is not sure whether or not BFA is contributing to migraine relief just yet. According to James, the benefit of acupuncture is an improved quality of life and no need to take any medications to relieve the pain associated with migraine headaches. "I inform my healthcare providers about the benefits [of acupuncture] and training opportunities. I research courses, dates and ensure that the providers who would like to attend have every opportunity to do so. I've seen and experienced the advantages of acupuncture, and know that others should also." (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
https://www.army.mil/article/211824/managing_pain_with_needles

02/16/2018

Robert L. Koffman, MD, MPH, inserting acupuncture needles into a soldier at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda, Maryland. Image courtesy of National Intrepid Center of Excellence.
https://www.healio.com/psychiatry/journals/psycann/2013-5-43-5/%7Bbb994f03-c700-429e-8e2e-9ecb759f665b%7D/acupuncture-and-ptsd- come-for-the-needles-stay-for-the-therapy

02/16/2018

Psychiatric Annals | Nearly one in five returning veterans is affected by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or the comorbid condition of depression.1 These phenomena do not always resolve upon transitioning to civilian life, and when persistent, can plague veterans as primary or comorbid problems...

02/16/2018

02/15/2018

Lt. Col. Dan Ferris has taken some ribbing for what he calls “the bling in my ears.”

02/15/2018

02/15/2018