ASNY COMMITTEES IN ACTION |
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Dr. Timur Lokshin, DACM, Chair
Dr. Anna Panettiere, DACM, Vice Chair
Second Tuesday of Each Month
1:00PM EST
Subcommittees: Insurance, Federal, Opioids
Projects: BCBS
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ASNY/ASA MOVING FORWARD WITH ADVOCACY EFFORT FOR MEDICARE INCLUSION FOR L.ACS |
From the moment CMS issued their decision-memo regarding coverage of acupuncture services for chronic lower back pain (Clbp,) the Acupuncture profession has been saddled with all of the burdens of Medicare inclusion without any of the benefits.
As of January 2020, Acupuncture for Clbp is covered by CMS and CAN BE performed by Licensed Acupuncturists who meet the requirements in the decision memo. They must have an "appropriate level" of supervision (undetermined as to what that means in spite of Congressional inquiries) by Medical Doctors, Physician Assistants or Nurse Practitioners (Skilled Nursing Professionals.) They cannot bill Medicare directly, as they are not included within the definitions of practitioners who can bill in the Social Security Act.
To change this requires an Act of Congress, which currently comes from the Office of Representative Judy Chu's HR 1183 Acupuncture for our Heroes and Seniors Act of 2019. Congresswoman Chu's Legislative Director, Ellen Hamilton, along with legislative policy subject matter experts Kallie Byrd Guimond (Health Policy Advocacy Institute) and John Richardson (SmithBucklin) joined ASA in a Q&A on July 9th to answer questions the state associations had regarding Medicare Inclusion. ASNY highly encourages everyone to view the video to help answer questions they may have.
State & National Surveys:
ASNY published a survey that went out to its members regarding Medicare Inclusion in mid-April. 92% of Respondents replied that they were in favor of Medicare Inclusion. In July, ASA sent out a survey regarding Medicare Inclusion along with educational materials. The results, according to the ASA, were that New York L.Acs supported Medicare Inclusion. ASNY's ASA Delegate, Michelle Wright was directed to vote in favor of the effort for inclusion at the following Council meeting.
Overall National Results:
At the July 23, 2020 Council meeting, the ASA Member State Associations voted in favor of pursuing Medicare inclusion for licensed acupuncturists as practitioners. As practitioners, opt-out is approved.
Out of 34 state member associations, the vote was 93% (28 votes) in favor of inclusion with no dissenting votes, 2 abstentions and 4 absences.
Next Steps:
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NYS Workers Compensation Board:
Positions Available for L.Ac Arbitrators for
Acupuncture Medical Bill Disputes
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The NYS Workers’ Compensation Board is in need of Licensed Acupuncturists (LAcs) who would be willing to review disputed medical bills for the services rendered by a LAc through the WCB Arbitration process.
I am in the office on a limited basis but if you have questions, please feel free to contact me at 518-810-7002.
Patricia A. Furdyna, RN
Principal Medical Care Representative
NYS Workers’ Compensation Board
Riverview Center Suite 195 Menands, NY 12204
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NEW Task Force:
Insurance Subcommittee BCBS Reimbursement Rates
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ASNY BCBS Project Joins Advocacy Committee, Communications Committee to Determine Next Steps |
Beginning in June of 2020, many ASNY members reported a reduction of reimbursement rates or denials of claims. So far, it appears there may be a reduction in units paid out. ASNY has convened a task force and is in the process of identifying leaders and fact-finding. If you would like to be a part of this, please join us at BaseCamp!
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Housing Justice is Public Health:
No Evictions in New York State!
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Coalition Calls On New York Health Care Workers to Support Housing Justice |
Housing Justice is Public Health:
No Evictions in New York State!
As a coalition of health workers, epidemiologists, and public health experts and advocates, we are witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on New York residents. One principle we cannot emphasize enough: safe and stable housing is essential to recovery from and prevention of COVID-19.
- The New York State Department of Health calling to keep housing court closed and declare eviction a public health crisis
- Assembly Speaker Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Governor Cuomo to support 3 pieces of legislation that would guarantee stable, affordable housing for at least the duration of the pandemic.
Our demands to both parties can be read in the letters linked below as well as a link to join the coalition.
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Dr. Viktor Krystufek, DACM Chair
Mona Yuan, MS, L.Ac, PT ,Vice Chair
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1st Monday of Every Month
9:00PM EST
Subcommittees: Newsletter, Public Education, Social Media
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ASNY is now on Twitter under the username: @AcuSocietyNY. Twitter is where the majority of New York's legislators are, therefore it will be the social media platform most used for grassroots campaigns.
- If you have not, create a Twitter account.
- Personalize your account with a professional profile picture.
- Your bio should be concise and interesting, and include your credentials, and location.
- Encourage your patients to get on Twitter and follow you too!
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ASNY is now on Instagram under the username: @AcuSocietyNewYork. Instagram is a great visual platform.You can use it to market your brand, to connect with patients, and to support each other in this profession. Instagram will also be used to create public education campaigns.
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ASNY SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO JOIN ASNY SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM |
Calling all Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Students: ASNY is looking for creative members of the industry to join the ASNY Social Media Team. This team is responsible for all social media content and the ASNY Newsletter & Reviews. We are ESPECIALLY interested in working with Acupuncture Students in an effort to both provide their perspective AND give them insight into the industry. If interested, please join us at BaseCamp!!
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Dr. Timur Lokshin, DACM, Chair
Peter Caron, M.AC Vice Chair
3nd Thursday of Every Month
1:00PM EST
The Governance Committee has been working to finish the ASNY Social Media Policy that will govern posting etiquette on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The ASNY Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual is also nearing completion with governing documents for all committees included.
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Peter Caron, M.AC Chair
Dr. Carl Castillo, DACM, Vice Chair
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4th Monday of Every Month
1:00PM EST
REGIONAL Meetings
being established
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES:
Our community functions best when it communicates. To improve our communication, ASNY will be launching a regional representative initiative this summer. Each region of New York State will have a representative. These representatives will be volunteers from each
community. They will be tasked with connecting and building their community. They will also be soliciting their local community for feedback, which will then be brought the the board of directors. If we don’t know varied needs of our community, it’s challenging to represent everyone. We see this as a huge step forward to making sure
that happens.
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MEET ZAKIYA CUSH!!
Zakiya Cush is future holistic dermatologist, who is happy to pursue her studies in Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine at the Pacific College of Health & Sciences. She looks forward to giving back to the community and going into private practice upon graduation. Zakiya has an extensive biomedical dermatology background, and aims to combine both eastern and western medicine in her holistic dermatology practice. She is passionate about public health disparities, especially in medicine and in the field of dermatology. And her study on “The Upper East Side vs Central Harlem: What is responsible for the Dermatology Disparities that shaped these Communities?” was recently published by her school New York Medical College, where she is also obtaining her MPH degree.
In her free time she enjoys a daily yoga practice, which has helped with strengthening her immune system and providing a general sense of wellness, which is much needed in the time of COVID-19
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ASNY STUDENT MEMBERS CALLED TO SERVICE! |
ASNY values its future generations and invites all current New York Acupuncture Students to join us as we work to advocate for our profession!
Students are invited to take part in all teams, projects and task forces and to share their experiences as they navigate their way towards careers in this profession.
ASNY has volunteer opportunities for students from all backgrounds. We are looking for those who want to have a voice in the future of this medicine and the direction it is headed. In the coming months, the forefront of advocacy will be Medicare Inclusion and what the benefits of this federal system could mean for jobs, student loan forgiveness programs and future residency opportunities within our schools. ALL OF THESE ISSUES REQUIRE INPUT FROM STUDENTS.
ASNY will be setting up a structure for students to be involved and be heard. We are looking for leaders, advocates, speakers, writers, and workers! We are looking to collaborate with creative, passionate and dedicated individuals who can roll up their sleeves and help shape the future of the Licensed Acupuncturist profession in both New York and the US.
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NATIONAL NEWS: ASA/NCCAOM SURVEY |
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Dr. Kallie Byrd Guimond, D.OM
President, Health Policy Advocacy Institute
ASNY Consultant
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