July 2020 Academy Newsletter

Table of Contents – July 2020

• Wild Times — Where’s the Map? 
• Welcome New AAMA Members
• Legislative Advocacy – Committee Update 
• New AAMA Webinar: An Acupuncture Guide to Common Shoulder Complaints
• AAMA Medicare Survey Summary
• AAMA Offers Assistance with Care for Veterans  
• Are You Taking Advantage of All of the Benefits of AAMA Membership? 
• Save $$ By Recruiting NEW Members to Join 
• Call for Submissions: Acupuncture, Internal Medicine, and COVID-19
• ICYMI: In Case You Missed It Last Month            
  • AAMA Research Paper – Watch the Video Presentation
  • Acupuncturists without Borders Offers Ear Seed Kits
  • Clinical Registry: COVID-19 and Integrative Health
• Professional Development Opportunities
  • AAMA Webinar: An Acupuncture Guide to Common Shoulder Complaints
  • KIOM-SAR 2020 International Research Conference
  • 2021 Medical Acupuncture Review Course
  • 2021 AAMA Annual Symposium
  • ICMART World Medical Acupuncture Congress
  • AAMA Website: Education Listings 
• Medical Acupuncture Journal Updates
  • Fast-Track Articles
  • Current Issue: June 2020
  • Most-recent CME Article 
• New Scientific Research 

Wild Times — Where’s the Map? 

Long before I thought about medical school, I enjoyed sitting with my Dad in his pickup truck driving around the hills of Allegheny in the summer. Windows open, wind in our faces, surrounded by his work tools, life couldn’t have been better. Often, he would pretend to be lost. “Find the way home, Freddie!” he’d exclaim, and then wait for me to provide directions to our camp. Little did I know, this test was a lesson and he was there to guide me. The anxiety of getting lost piqued my senses, and I paid close attention to every detail as I navigated. When we’d finally get back, he’d congratulate me vigorously. In reality, he was not going to let us get lost — he wanted to get back to a hearty camp dinner more than anyone.

The pandemic is causing anxiety amongst many and it’s piquing our senses. Keeping up to date on guidelines and directing our patients appropriately has many of us on edge. We’re looking for direction, but many of us feel lost. Some nice parental guidance would be comforting, as we’d like to make it home and be congratulated. Yet, where is the finish line in this race? What will the world look like a year from now?

I learned a love of maps and direction early in life. Some might say that learning acupuncture meridian maps was particularly easy for me because of my Dad, the Navy pilot. “You would be a great navigator,” he’d tell me. Were these inherent qualities or did I just accentuate them to get all of the lavish praise from my father? We’ll never know.

What I do know is that we all need vision and direction for how to get through this pandemic in a healthy and civilized fashion. As your current AAMA president, my vision for a bright future is fueled by you, our members. I hear from many of you frequently and do my best to incorporate your ideas into our plans. Your current board of directors is passionately active in steering this organization in the right direction. Our administrative staff is working tirelessly to accommodate all of the changes that occur routinely nowadays. I am blessed to have a group of amazing mentors in my life who boost me, encourage me, and guide me — particularly when the tasks are difficult.

We had been working on shoring up the infrastructure of the AAMA long before COVID. Over the past year, your board has solidified our mission and our vision statements to reflect your opinions and our guidance. All committees are well populated and led by skillful chairs. We have surveyed AAMA members and clarified the definition of “full member” accordingly. Research has a stronger presence in the AAMA, thanks to a hard-working research committee. Relationships with other medical and acupuncture associations have become more vibrant and respectful. Commentaries to legislators and governing agencies have grabbed the attention of those who might inadvertently erode our rights to practice. We’re interacting with the VA’s third-party insurance entities to assure that physicians are allowed to treat veterans with acupuncture and be paid fairly; likewise, we’re working with CMS to assure a fair reimbursement for what we do. And we’re working on whether we can safely host a 2021 symposium or convert it to the most amazing virtual education ever.

These are some wild times we’re living in! Where’s the map? What’s our direction? I am fully convinced that NOW is the time for medical acupuncture, like never before. Safe human contact is the solution in medicine and we provide that in the most holistic and compassionate way. Integration of resources is the very lifeblood of what we do. Compassion for those suffering is inherent to all physicians, but I feel it most strongly when I’m interacting with my acupuncture colleagues. Our medical subspecialty speaks to the very soul of our patients, particularly when they’re lost, anxious, and in need of our direction.

Please stay healthy and hold on to what is most precious in your lives. This storm will pass.

Renew your AAMA membership! Keep the ideas and suggestions rolling it. We depend on you!  

Freda Dreher, MD, FAAMA
President, AAMA Board of Directors 

Welcome New AAMA Members

Please join us in welcoming the following new members who became part of the Academy in June 2020:

• Carter S. Tisdale, MD, of North Las Vegas, NV 
• Gaurav Trehan, MD, DABMA, of Philadelphia, PA 
• Roselyn Jan Wuthrich Clemente Fuentes, MD, FAAFP of Niceville, FL
• John Flanagan, MD of Nashville, TN – Welcome BACK!

Legislative Advocacy – Committee Update 

As legislative activity picks up again across the country, the Legislative Committee is once again reviewing proposed initiatives that may affect medical acupuncture. Three current priorities:

• Gathering information about licensing and malpractice insurance requirements for Ohio in preparation for the 2021 symposium.
• Monitoring activity related to CMS/Medicare reimbursement to support legislation that aligns with AAMA member needs.
• Working with an AAMA member who is having difficulty securing a contract with Optum to provide acupuncture treatments for veterans. (Are you having a similar problem with Optum or other insurance provider? Reach out to us now!)  

Legislative tracking and advocacy are ongoing priorities of the AAMA Board of Directors. Please remember: If you become aware of legislative issues/bills being proposed in your state that would affect medical acupuncturists, we encourage you to let us know by email (info@medicalacupuncture.org) or phone (310-379-8261). 

New AAMA Webinar: An Acupuncture Guide to Common Shoulder Complaints

The webinar — We Carry the Weight of the World on Our Shoulders: An Acupuncture Guide to Common Shoulder Complaints — will be presented by Kendra Unger, MD, FAAMA and Jason Oreskovich, DO, DABMA, on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 (8pm EDT, 7pm CDT, 5pm PDT). This webinar is designed to refresh the learner on the topic of the shoulder. Clinical presentations will be used to guide the learner through the evaluation and diagnosis of common shoulder complaints. Acupuncture treatments suggested for each condition will also be reviewed and illustrated. The shoulder is one of the most complex joints of the human body. Its unique design allows it to move in all directions, making our lives much easier. Injury, pain, or dysfunction of the shoulder greatly impacts a person’s functionality and quality of life. Shoulder complaints are very common in medical and acupuncture practice. The goal of this webinar is to familiarize practitioners with the wonder of this amazing joint and to review common conditions and treatments available. Learn more and register today! 

AAMA Medicare Survey Summary

Thank you to all who participated in the survey regarding Medicare coverage for acupuncture services. Almost 200 members participated in the survey. More than half of the respondents were solo owners of a private practice while about 20% were employed in a group practice. Here is a summary of the survey results:

• 2/3 of respondents are in a practice that accepts Medicare patients.
• Most respondents who accept Medicare do their own acupuncture treatments.
• Of the 32 respondents who have filed claims with Medicare for coverage for acupuncture, half stated they experienced problems collecting reimbursement for services.
• Most respondents believe the AAMA should promote expansion of acupuncture services for Medicare patients ONLY if reimbursement rates equal those of private insurance. 

The AAMA Board and Legislative Committee will work to promote Medicare coverage for acupuncture for additional diagnoses if reimbursement rates are increased to reasonable amounts. Physicians deserve to be adequately compensated for their time and services. Read more.  

AAMA Offers Assistance with Care for Veterans