British Columbia Health Minister George Abbott announced Tuesday that low-income B.C. residents on the premium-assistance program-- those earning $28,000 a year or less-- will be able to see a registered acupuncturist under the Medical Services Plan.
"The evidence was just as compelling for acupuncture as it was for chiropractics, massage therapy and physical therapy," Abbott told CTV.ca in a telephone interview.
"All of them have a measurable benefit, and acupuncture does as well. So, I couldn't see a reason why we wouldn't want to include acupuncture."
The Ministry of Health received a request from the Chinese Acupuncture Association in May 2007, and based on the evidence, Abbott concluded that there was good reason to expand the supplemental benefits to acupuncture. The billing change will be effective April 1, 2008.
"We looked at the national and international literature around the advocacy of acupuncture treatments in relation to conditions," Abbott said.
"For a number of conditions such as lower back pain, migraines and several others, acupuncture was found to be beneficial for treatment of pain in those conditions."
Patients will be able to claim up to 10 visits per year, just as they would with other alternative medical practices such as physiotherapy, chiropractic or massage therapy.
