05/23/2024
๐ก
We need your help RITUAL and Acupuncture Community! We help to spearhead medi-CAL acupuncture services for Solano County patients since 2015. Now the governor wants to remove acupuncture as an essential health benefit!?!?
This will dramatically and negatively impact our acupuncture services to those who have truly needed it!
Please assist us in this letter campaign brought by our professional acupuncture organization in California!
May 22, 2024
ACTION ALERT
Dear CSOMA Community,
California State โGovernorโs Proposed 2024-25 May Revisionโ cuts acupuncture as Medi-Cal Benefit, starting January 2025. This cut will stop the existing acupuncture services for millions of much needed Medi-Cal beneficiaries, and negatively impact the acupuncture profession in California.
Due to our short window to make any change, we are asking you to:
1. Find your local Senator and Assembly Member: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
2. Make a copy of this letter. Complete it with your information, and send it to your Assembly Member no later than 5/28/24. (This letter can be found at the end if you prefer to copy & paste from here.)
3. Share on social media, alumni groups, tell your teachers, patients and families to write and call their reps now. (Feel free to share/comment on our Instagram & Facebook posts.)
Background
When California implemented the Affordable Care Act in 2014, acupuncture was classified as an "Essential Health Benefit" which thus required private insurance and group policies to offer acupuncture benefits.
Removing acupuncture from state covered benefits in Medi-Cal goes directly against this policy, undermining low income access to acupuncture while otherwise mandating that private insurance holders have access.
This revision to Medi-Cal benefits is scheduled to be signed into law by Governor Newsom as early as mid-June.
CSOMA is working closely with other CA state associations under the unified umbrella of the "California Acupuncture Coalition - CAC" to address this urgent issue.
CSOMA's Board of Directors, with the CAC, have contacted representatives from the following key committees: the Senate Standing Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, the Subcommittee 3 on Health and Human Services, and the CA Assembly Committee on Budget.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW... on behalf of thousands of Medi-CAL patients who, if this change happens, will lose their ability to access acupuncture in CA, and the many clinicians who may face economic loss or possible closure of their clinic.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Date]
[Recipient's Name]
[Office Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
Dear [Representative Name],
I am a patient of acupuncture and have benefited from this medical choice for my chronic and acute conditions. I am writing to express my deep concern about the Governorโs Proposed 2024-25 Budget, which includes the elimination of acupuncture as a Medi-Cal benefit. This cut is alarming for our community and the many patients who have relied on these for chronic, severe pain.
Please do not eliminate acupuncture from Medi-Cal. Your constituents need our services for the following reasons:
Opioid Epidemic Solution: Since 2016, acupuncture under Medi-Cal has provided a vital treatment alternative to the overuse of prescription medications to treat chronic severe pain, helping combat the opioid crisis.
Economic Value: Acupuncture's minimal allocation in the Medi-Cal budget yields significant benefits. Removing it would likely increase the need for more expensive and potentially harmful treatments, raising state healthcare costs.
Essential Health Benefit: Since 2012, acupuncture has been mandated as an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act, ensuring acupuncture coverage for patients in California.
Eliminating this benefit would reduce the quality of care for millions and lead to higher long-term costs for the state. I urge you to advocate for retaining acupuncture coverage under Medi-Cal.
Thank you for your attention to this crucial issue. We hope for a favorable resolution that preserves acupuncture coverage for Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
