Essential Health Benefits: In 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, a health insurance reform law intended to ensure access to quality and affordable health insurance for all Americans. Starting in 2014, most health plans will be required to offer a comprehensive package of items and services to patients, known as “essential health benefits”(EHB). Under the new law, EHB must cover certain specific services including emergency services, maternity and newborn care, prescription drugs as well as preventive and wellness services, among others.The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) strongly supports designating acupuncture as an EHB.
Our full position statementis available in the Governance section of our website at aaaomonline.org If you are able to contribute financial support to this effort, which will be solely used to further publicize and generate action on this issue, please click here or contact us. To participate in committee work or related research projects, please contact us at info@aaaomonline.org
Public Input is Needed: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently accepting input regarding their approach to establishing EHBs. A strong public show of support for acupuncture as an essential health benefit will be noticed by policymakers and will lay a solid foundation for future federal acupuncture initiatives.
Take action now: PLEASE send an email to the address below to show your support for EHB. Emails should request that acupuncture be designated as an essential benefit service and should share the benefits of acupuncture and its cost effectiveness.
To send a message to HHS, visit aaomonline.org/ehb or send an email directly to: EssentialHealthBenefits@cms.hhs.gov and carbon copy EHB@aaaomonline.org so that we can track the letters sent. The deadline for comments is January 31, 2012. Thank you for your support of our efforts to serve our profession. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact AAAOM at 1-866-455-7999, extension 3, or info@aaaomonline.org
