The short answer is: Yes. If you have acupuncture coverage, I will submit to your insurance company for payment. But it's important for you to understand that I'm out-of-network, meaning that I'm not registered as an in-network provider with any insurance company. I choose not to be for a few reasons: 1) it would mean that they could then determine how I treat you according to their criteria; 2) Additionally, I would be forced to accept whatever payment they determine- which in my experience can be as low as $30 for a treatment- which would drastically affect the care I'd be able to provide based on the expenses of running an office in NYC.

By remaining out-of-network, I'm able to treat you as I see fit to best assist you on your wellness journey, and be paid a reasonable fee for such treatment.

Please note: you may have an out-of-network deductible that will need to be met, and this payment will be your responsibility. Additionally, if your insurance company pays a nominal fee for acupuncture coverage, you may have a co-pay.

If you have questions about your insurance coverage, please contact my office, and as a service to you, we will check with your insurance company and find out exactly what the terms of your coverage are in order to avoid any surprises.

You can click here to submit the necessary information to us,
and we'll get back to you with the details of your coverage.

Acupuncture is particularly effective for pain relief and for post-surgery and chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting. In addition, both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health recognize that acupuncture can be a helpful part of a treatment plan for many illnesses. A partial list includes: addiction (such as alcoholism), asthma, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, facial tics, fibromyalgia, headaches, irregular periods, low back pain, menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, sinusitis, spastic colon (often called irritable bowel syndrome), stroke rehabilitation, tendonitis, tennis elbow, and urinary problems such as incontinence. You can safely combine acupuncture with prescription drugs and other conventional treatments.

The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture also lists a wide range of conditions for which acupuncture is appropriate. In addition to those listed above, they recommend acupuncture for sports injuries, sprains, strains, whiplash, neck pain, sciatica, nerve pain due to compression, overuse syndromes similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, pain resulting from spinal cord injuries, allergies, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sore throat (called pharyngitis), high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux (felt as heartburn or indigestion), ulcers, chronic and recurrent bladder and kidney infections, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), infertility, endometriosis, memory problems, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, sensory disturbances, depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders.

Some health care providers may avoid treatment during pregnancy. However, if you were seeing a practitioner prior to your pregnancy it is generally safe to continue receiving treatment from them during your pregnancy. You should inform your acupuncturist about any treatments or medications you are taking and all medical conditions you have. Acupuncture is not recommended during the menstrual cycle.

Be sure your acupuncturist uses only disposable needles (I do). And if I prescribe herbs, you may certainly want to talk to your doctor, to underwrite my efforts to make sure we're not creating any harmful interactions with any prescription medications. Herbs are potent substances that can be harmful if you suffer from certain conditions. Avoid strenuous physical activity, heavy meals, alcohol intake, or sexual activity for up to 8 hours after a treatment.

The needles used within acupuncture are both sterile and extremely thin. Most people are surprised to see how thin the needles actually are. They range in width from approximately .14 mm to .30 mm and in length from 15 mm (.5 inch) to 75 mm (3 inches). The most commonly used needle is a 25 mm (1 inch) .25 mm width needle. Generally, they are inserted about 1-3 mm into the body - deeper on fleshy areas such as the buttocks.

The sensation you will feel when being needled is generally fairly minimal. In some styles you will feel almost nothing, while in others the needle will be rotated slightly until you feel a heavy or distended feeling indicating the arrival of qi.

After the needles are inserted you are usually left to rest for a period of 10 - 45 minutes. Within some styles the needles are inserted quickly and removed immediately and in others they are left in for a longer period of time. Most people feel fairly relaxed during this period and many simply fall asleep.

In many cases your treatment may consist of points on the front and back of your body so the practitioner may insert needles on the front, let you rest for awhile and then remove them, have you turn over and continue the treatment on your back.

Acupuncture is simply one facet of oriental medicine. Within an acupuncture treatment an acupuncturist may choose to utilize various adjunctive techniques depending on your condition and their training. These may include the following: