CMS Proposes Medicare Coverage For Acupuncture In Clinic Studies

CMS on Monday (July 15) proposed to cover acupuncture for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic low back pain who are enrolled in CMS-approved studies or clinic trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Medicare currently does not cover acupuncture, but CMS sees it as a promising treatment for chronic pain and a potential alternative to opioids. The agency said the evidence supporting acupuncture has grown in recent years but added that “questions remain” about its effectiveness for Medicare beneficiaries. Limiting...