http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#150343 My wife has been receiving acupuncture for several years. It has been the most effective approach in treating her chronic arthritis. If health care reform is going to cover faith healing, as currently proposed, it seems only logical that a treatment mode proven successful for thousands be included as well.... 150343@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#150345 Thank for championing this cause... 150345@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#135142 When American medicine and Oriental medicine work together, WE ALL WIN!!!... 135142@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#134241 I don't know where people get their information when they state that acupuncture has not been proven effective. First, most major university hospitals, which are considered by the medical establishment to provide the highest standard of care, have acupuncture clinics in their medical centers or hospitals. Second, in technologically highly developed countries like Korea and Japan, acupuncture is an integral part of the medical fabric, a viable option available to all patients. Third, in China, despite Chairman Mao's efforts to institute Western medicine, the ancient system of acupuncture is still widely practiced, researched and taught. There are acupuncture hospitals in all major cities, staffed by university professors. Malpractice insurance premiums for acupuncturists are extremely low, attesting to the marketplace's recognition that it has virtually no harmful side effects, a claim that Western medicine cannot make.... 134241@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#132087 The Mayo Clinic completed a study on Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia in August 2005 showing that patients showed "significant" improvement for up to 7 months after completion of a series of acupuncture treatments. Although there is no cure for Fibromyalgia, this offers hope for those who suffer with this health issue.... 132087@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#124764 Of course acupuncture should be covered by all medical insurance plans. Dr. Kaltas is right: NIH studies have proven acupuncture is effective. We need to get away from cheap reliance on drugs that mask symptoms but do not address causes or true healing. We need to push for insurance coverage of these alternative therapies that give people a better quality of life.... 124764@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#82888 I think that Mr. Hallstrom spends entirely too much time in his left brain with total faith in a scientific method that is just as rife with error, assumption, and parameter tweaking as CAM is full of "voodoo". Anecdotal evidence, at the everyday clinical level, is far more valuable than the vast majority of any studies I have ever seen. (That being said, no offense intended.)The trick in the future will be to design high-quality studies with experienced acupuncturists helping to define study parameters to satisfy nay-sayers. Acupuncture does work when it's indicated, just as any other procedure works when it's indicated.... 82888@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#81025 I always thought acupuncture worked because people thought it would work. That was before I watched a vet perform acupuncture on a horse who could barely walk and see the horse walk away sound after the treatment. They horse didn't "believe" in acupuncture, but the pain was gone.... 81025@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#65220 I support the bill. Its not going to really do acupuncturists any big favors/low pay for a lot of work. where does "cheaper" come in?... 65220@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#64659 Speck-many of then do (pay) after virtually any encouraging sign, or comment from our perspective of a more holistic medicine. The real trick, it seems, is that of getting the American public to transition from a mental outlook of basically helplessness ("the doctor said that there is only one thing to do, etc"), to one of empowerment. By that I mean that they actually stick with this type of medicine long enough to change a habit, posture, food preference, etc. along with the actual acupuncture/herbs. In general, in my experience; the minute they acknowledge almost any betterment whatsoever, based on Chinese medicine's assistance with their transition, they run with it. Patient's are amazed when they find out, for instance, that if they actually DO eat a few celery stalks per day, and keep a blood pressure journal, that they will most likely be able to severely curtail, or eliminate their blood pressure prescriptions, in conjunction with their physician's OK, etc.... 64659@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#64660 Indeed, my (and most) patients are a special breed within this country's framework; they tend to be optimistic, seeking empowerment, etc. Hallstrom would say that they are the natural recruitments for a placebo study-which reminds me; Why don't they market placebo's if they work so well? Anyway, this medicine is CHEAP, has anyone compared ANY of the actual HIDDEN, DRIVING COSTS of the current healthcare system-litigation, the huge middle-man expenses of and to the court system, the dollar cost of the ramifications of the supposedly SAVE Vioxes, Statins, etc and the havoc they have reaked on patients. Has anyone heard of any multi-million dollar settlements awarded because of acupuncture, herbs, tui-na, etc. Apples to apples.... 64660@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#64597 So, if it's so inexpensive, why can't the people that want to use it pay for it themselves?... 64597@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#64533 This board is being dominated by someone with a strong personal agenda against acupuncture in a way that is way out of balance. C Hallstrom, I think you would benefit from some acupuncture sessions.... 64533@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#64247 to tim L.Ac. I just tried to post a comment of almost 1000 words regarding insurance and medicare and it must have timed out. I'll explain more t'row. Good night and thx for your patience!... 64247@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#64157 to John Howard-please describe "too many strings"-if you mean the paperwork of coding for diagnosis, treatment, etc. ,then I think I understand. If you mean otherwise-please explain. thanxu2so0... 64157@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63807 Accupunture didn't work for my migranes, but that doesn't mean it wont work for other people. I'd like to purchase products like these ala-carte on my insurance plan, but I don't want to be forced to pay for something that is of no benefit to me.... 63807@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63765 Acupuncture services have been repeatedly studied and proven to treat a number of ailments, including pain, safely without side effects.. at SIGNIFICANTLY LESS COST then traditional western medical approaches. IT IS TIME for the US Congress and the Medical Community to embrace the 1000's of years experience and success of Chinese based acupuncture treatment as a safe, effective and cost reducing approach to treating multiple ailments. Why should US seniors continue suffering with long term ailments and debilitating pain that could be successfully treated with acupuncture, because it is not a Medicare covered benefit. The cost of pain medications, pain management clinics and secondary health problems due to the failure of these approaches far exceed the cost of providing Medicare coverage for acupuncture. Commercial health care insurers have included acupuncture coverage for many years because they know acupuncture works, & at lower overall costs then other approaches.... 63765@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63798 I have a few patients that are being reimbursed via Blue Cross 80-100% after the patient and I have jumped through about a thousand paperwork hoops-I find this encouraging. Two of them will be going back to Mayo for their follow-ups9neurological), and they are very excited as they are both well ahead of the neurologist's prognostic timeline. I find it highly encouraging that for the rest of their lives, this is all the proof they will need.... 63798@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63693 Acupuncture was working for me but I had to quit because I couldn't afford it anymore. I met with the neurosurgeon and he told me that he only wants to do it if the acupuncture wasn't working. I'm playing the lottery and borrowing from my uncle so I can go back. We'll see.... 63693@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63582 and yet you trust fully in the mathematical metaphor, because it is comforting, it is firm, it is beautiful in its consistency. I also love it, but I respect and love the cosmological metaphor with equal vigor. in this piece - http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~nsivin/limit.pdf nathan sivin talks about the "limits of empirical knowledge" discussed by generations of Chinese Scholars. In it Sivin basically describes the interaction of these two metaphors (mathematical and cosmological).... 63582@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63583 I look at the mathematical metaphor as I look at digital music, and the cosmological as analog music. One is consistent, detailed, finely tuned, perfect. It will play the same exact way over and over again ad infinitum. but it can never have ALL the sounds made in the live setting. Analog conversely, impresses a completely real version of the live sound, though it is subject to physical decay and disrepair. One is trustworthy, but ultimately just short of true. The other is untrustworthy, but if right, wholly true.... 63583@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63588 I do not support this bill! Medicare comes with to many strings. Most acupuncturists in this country could not handle the paper work of medicare.... 63588@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63502 Bias >>"People feel better but that does not mean that their disease has been treated." Speaking from the patient's point of view, is it not MOST important that s/he come away from treatment feeling better. Isn't this the point? Have we gotten so far away from patient-centered treatment that it no longer matters how the patient feels--only wheather the doctor or scientist is satisfied? If a doctor gives me drugs or surgery and I feel worse for side effects and yet my disease has been "treated", am I really getting my money's worth here? If I feel better, does it matter how it works? If it's also cheaper than the aforementioned approaches, doesn't this save medicare/tax money in the long run? If the patient is feels better, there are no more doctor visits--how can this be bad? smc... 63502@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63518 shanna - why did you engage somebody who's name is "bias"? :) and watch out with hallstrom s/he is cagey!! thanks for jumping in though, i was getting tired of doing all the fighting!... 63518@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_646.html#63530 there is a DRAMATIC correlation between feeling better and the correct functioning/integration of physiological checks-and-balances:it is pretty much how we are wired. It is easy to see that "feeling good" is equated with such and such a neurotransmitter load. This becomes chicken or the egg-as changing one's outlook will change the number of cellular receptors, stc.-sorry, I have no studies;just know that I have read some, somewhere. And just because I don't have that at hand-doesn't mean it is a moot point.///Hallstrom & Bias-have you read Love, Medicine, and Miracles; old book by Bernie siegel-surgeon. It explains "the exceptional patient"-the 99th percent people on a bell-shaped curve. They have non-ordinary correlations that, nonetheless, allow them to be the exceptional statistical successes of cancer survival.... 63530@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT