| Some members of Congress from California are among a growing number of legislators who support efforts to provide Medicare coverage for acupuncture treatment, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. About one-third of the legislators who support the bill, sponsored by Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), represent California, including districts with large Asian communities. |
| The cost of providing Medicare coverage for acupuncture remains unclear, but supporters of the proposal say they will ask for a government review of the expenses this year. |
| Comments: |
| Brian Fennen, director of the Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations in Calistoga, said that California has offered limited coverage of acupuncture under Medi-Cal since 1979, adding, "We have very strong Asian-American communities that utilize acupuncture, and we're a progressive state." |
| Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said, "It's a low-tech medical treatment. I think there's a very significant possibility that it will reduce costs rather than increase them." |
| Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) added, "Why would you continue to pay doctor bill after doctor bill when this kind of thing works? If we're going to have a program, we should have the most cost-effective program." |
| Reps. Howard Berman (D- Calif.), Chris Cox (R- Calif.), Rep. Gary Miller (R- Calif.), Grace Napolitano (D- Calif.), Dana Rohrabacher (R- Calif.), Ed Royce (R- Calif.), Hilda Solis (D- Calif.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) also support the bill, according to the Daily News (Friedman, Los Angeles Daily News, 2/28). |