CMS to cover acupuncture for Medicare beneficiaries

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday finalized a decision to cover acupuncture for Medicare patients with chronic low back pain. Acupuncture has not been covered nationally by Medicare, but recent evidence from published acupuncture studies indicated that patients with chronic low back pain showed improvements in function and pain. “Expanding options for pain treatment is a key piece of the Trump Administrations’ strategy for defeating our country’s opioid crisis,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.