Acupuncture for Veterans: Pain Management Solutions
How Veterans Can Benefit from Acupuncture
Many veterans returning from deployment experience physical and mental health issues.
A study by the Journal of General Internal Medicine concludes that receiving treatments that are non-drug-based can reduce the likelihood of chronic pain. According to the study, veterans receiving non-drug therapy had a ‘significantly lower’ risk of :
Alcohol or drug disorders
Accidental poisoning with opioids, related narcotics, barbiturates or sedatives
Thoughts of suicides
Self-inflicted injuries
In light of the opioid crisis, acupuncture is seen as a reasonable and necessary adjunct care for pain management. Veterans do have access to acupuncture care via TriWest Community Care Network (CCN).
However, there MUST BE direct authorization and referral for acupuncture.
How the Veterans Affairs (VA) Program Works?
Veteran seeks care from the VA.
VA determines, based on eligibility criteria, that the veteran should receive care from a CCN provider.
VA will call CCN provider to schedule appointment with necessary medical documentations.
Veteran receives care from CCN provider.
When to Request for Acupuncture?
Veteran needs help to deal with pain issues.
Veteran wants alternative/ adjunct care to medications.
Veteran has attempted other modalities e.g. physical therapy, medications etc.
How Can a Veteran Gain Access to Community Care Network (CCN)?
A service is needed that is not available at a VA medical facility.
Full service VA medical facility is not available in the area where the veteran lives.
The wait time at a VA facility is more than 20 days for primary and mental health care or 28 days for specialty care.
It is in the veteran’s best medical interest, as determined by the VA provider.
Care cannot be delivered at a VA medical facility that is within a 30 minute drive for primary care or a 60 minute drive for specialty care.
Ida Mat Aris is an in-network provider with TriWest. Any veteran that has authorization for acupuncture can receive treatments at our facility.
