Fighting for Acupuncture

Anytime you or your loved one gets sick, figuring out how to access the proper treatment should be the last thing on your mind.

That can be especially challenging for immigrant families, who may need in-language, culturally competent care. I’ve spent many years working to expand access to health care for all San Franciscans, and I’m pleased to announce a recent win to ensure access to acupuncture, an ancient practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Right now, the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress are demolishing funding for Medicaid, a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage for low-income families. These cruel cuts are undermining people’s access to affordable health care nationwide. Medi-Cal is our state’s Medicaid program, and it covers nearly 15 million people or about one-third of the state’s population.

In California, we’re moving in the opposite direction of this administration, to ensure health care is available for all who need it, regardless of their income level or immigration status.

California authorized the practice of acupuncture in 1972, and in 1989 the state made acupuncture a covered benefit under Medi-Cal. San Francisco has always had a large number of acupuncture practitioners and patients who rely on it. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin metal needles into certain points on the body to ensure a person’s qi, or life force, energy is balanced. Disease and illness are believed to occur when our qi is out of balance.

Our country is in the midst of an addiction crisis, and acupuncture can help some people get healthy. Acupuncture helps with chronic pain but has fewer side effects than Western approaches to pain, and it isn’t addictive. It treats the whole person, not only the body but the mind and soul as well, making it a powerful, holistic medical option.

I serve as chair of the Senate Budget Committee. This year, for the second year in a row, I successfully advocated to maintain acupuncture as a covered benefit under Medi-Cal, after it was proposed for elimination. Restoring this proposed benefit cut has been challenging, since we are seeing large budget deficits, but we got it done and protected acupuncture access.

Acupuncture treatments can save us money in the long run by preventing those with chronic pain from switching to dangerously addictive opioids. For the past 50 years, there has been growing research supporting acupuncture’s efficacy to manage chronic pain and promote wellness, and I’m grateful to leaders in the acupuncture community for working with me on this important benefit.

We heard about the negative impact of the proposed acupuncture cut from leaders in the medical community, including Dr. Jian Zhang, CEO of Chinese Hospital, and Eddie Chan, president and CEO of North East Medical Services (NEMS). Most of their patients are monolingual Chinese immigrants who are covered by Medi-Cal, and also frequently visit acupuncturists when they experience pain.

I am proud that we protected this critical health benefit, and I will continue to work hard as your senator to expand access to health care. My office will be tabling at the final Heart of the Richmond Night Market on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. on Clement Street. Please come out and celebrate. I look forward to seeing you there.

Scott Wiener represents San Francisco and northern San Mateo County in the California State Senate. He chairs the Senate Budget Committee and co-chairs the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. He previously chaired the Senate Housing Committee and the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. He can be reached at 415-557-1300 and sd11.senate.ca.gov/contact.