Santa Monica Acupuncture Clinic Now Accepting Insurance

Feb. 10, 2010 - PRLog -- Meridian Health Clinic of Santa Monica, CA recently started accepting health insurance in an effort to make acupuncture treatment more accessible to the Los Angeles community. The owners of the clinic have been pleasantly surprised by the number of patients whose health insurance provides coverage for acupuncture treatment.

In the United States, approximately 38 percent of adults (about 4 in 10) and approximately 12 percent of children (about 1 in 9) are using some form of complementary and alternative medicine. Therapies which are classified as complementary and alternative medicine (often abbreviated as CAM) include acupuncture treatment, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and naturopathic medicine, among others.

Due to the increasing popularity and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine, more and more insurance companies are offering full or partial coverage for various CAM therapies. However, many small-business, private-practice CAM practitioners are finding that billing insurance is such a time-consuming and laborious process, that they are not "accepting" insurance. That is, they do not actually prepare all of the required paperwork and submit the claim. Instead, they receive payment at the time of service and provide patients with the necessary information to submit claims themselves.

We started meeting prospective patients that wanted acupuncture treatment, had acupuncture as a covered benefit, and couldn't find an acupuncturist that would accept insurance. Considering the current economic situation, it's understandable that patients don't want to pay up-front for medical services if they don't have to. We saw this as a great opportunity to develop our business and to make acupuncture more accessible to our community. We began to see our business grow and our patients receive the care that they needed.  We look forward to the day when all insurance companies give their members the freedom to decide which health care modalities are best for their unique situations.

Meridian Health Clinic is an acupuncture and herbal medicine center run by Eric Schmidt, L.Ac. and operated at the location of Dr. Peter Field's Pacific Prolotherapy and Medical Wellness Center.  Meridian Health Clinic specializes in the treatment of myofascial/body pain, skin problems, stress and digestive disorders; However there are many other issues that are treated effectively with the Traditional Chinese Medicine System.  Therapies include Acupuncture, Cupping, Moxibustion, Herbs and Dietary Therapy.  We offer high quality acupuncture treatments and personalized herbal prescriptions in a professional and relaxed setting.

Eric Schmidt, L.Ac, Dipl. O.M. is the founder of Meridian Health Clinic.  He is an accomplished acupuncturist and herbalist, holding a Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.  Additionally, he has California (L.Ac.) and National (Dipl. O.M.) Acupuncture Board Certifications.
Attending Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley, Eric completed a 4-year Masters Program with training in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and modern biomedicine.  Additionally, he has studied and worked in clinics around the world including major TCM Hospitals in China and Japan.  His 4 months of intensive study in China sets him apart from other practitioners in California.  Studying with TCM Doctors in China, Eric was able to experience the full scope of modern Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine applications in a busy clinical setting. While in China he also spent time studying Chinese language and classical brushpainting techniques (shu fa).  
Please see the clinic website for more details:

http://meridianhealthclinic.com/insurance/

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Meridian Health Clinic offers the best Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine care in Santa Monica, CA. As your natural health care provider we specialize in the treatment of body/back pain, headaches, digestive problems, fatigue and stress-related conditions.