Acupuncturists ask for medical services coverage

By Christina Toth - Times

Acupuncturists wanting to have their services covered in B.C.'s Medical Services Plan hope to make their point with B.C.'s health services minister.

Abbotsford acupuncturist Dr. Chris Vallee, president of the Qualified Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, sent a letter March 10 to Health Services Minister Shirley Bond.

"It would be a benefit to patients to include acupuncture and it wouldn't cost the government anything," he said last week.

Currently patients on income supplements can be covered for a combination of up to 10 visits for massage therapy, naturopathy, chiropractic and physio-therapy.

"If we added acupuncture to the list, it's giving the public another choice," said Vallee.

In his letter Vallee said: "Currently under the B.C. MSP there is coverage for people requiring income assistance for a combination of 10 treatments from the other professions listed above. We are receiving numerous requests from our patients and the people of British Columbia to include acupuncture and TCM treatments as an alternate choice for covered health care."

He hasn't heard back from Bond yet, but Vallee said that in an interview on Channel M, the minister's message was that while it was something she'd look at, nothing likely would be done until after the provincial election.

The health care system is geared to treating chronic symptoms, rather than earlier stage treatment or prevention, but acupuncture could help medical issues before they get to that stage, said Vallee.

"It's the oldest medicine in the world. It's used for so many different things," he said, including as a treatment for chronic pain, bronchial problems, asthma and allergies, irritable bowel and other problems.

Veterans' Affairs, extended medical insurance as well as Workers' Compensation all cover acupuncture costs, said Vallee.

MSP coverage could give acupuncture leverage from other insurance providers, he said.

"If we get MSP coverage, then it would be a lot easier for ICBC [Insurance Corporation of British Columbia] to also cover it," he said.

posted on 04/01/2005