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Happy Snow Season!
Spring is around the corner! But let’s hope for some more snow as well.
The AAC Annual General Meeting will be the weekend of April 17. It is very important that we have at least 36 members in attendance per our bylaws. Please join us for this virtual annual meeting (exact time still to be determined). We will be updating members on specific Practice Act and legislative initiatives, answering any questions on the direction of the AAC and the acupuncture profession, and hopefully getting input from all attendees on our direction for 2022 and beyond.
We have cancelled the in-person conference for that weekend (but have rescheduled for April of 2022). You may have received a poll email last week for your input of what to do instead of having an in person conference. If you are a member and have not filled out the poll on alternate options to an in-person conference for 2021, please do so now: https://acucol.com/Sys/Poll/22583
Go topollpage
Otherwise, keep a look out for possible virtual trainings, late-summer outdoor networking events, and our new weekly Friday Dispatch on Facebook Live!
Kacey Wardle, L.Ac.
President, AAC Board of Directors
Insurance Update:
Is acupuncture ‘essential’? In Colorado State, acupuncture is not considered an Essential Health Benefit (EHB). That means that coverage for acupuncture services is not mandated as a covered service in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange plans.
Colorado is updating their Benchmark Plan and we have a chance to get acupuncture named as a covered service by all ACA plans. To date, the AAC Insurance Committee has been representing acupuncturists in the benchmark work group meetings and has sent the following communication regarding the need to include acupuncture as an EHB.
Do you bill insurance?
Here’s how you can help! Please ask your patients to comment about how acupuncture helps them and why they feel insurance coverage is necessary during the public comment period starting on March 5th.
Questions? Reach out to Tuesday Wasserman, Insurance Committee Chair public comment
period starting on March 5th.
Questions? Reach out to Tuesday Wasserman, Insurance Committee C
Friday Dispatch Weekly Update:
Tune in every Friday to our Facebook page, website or monthly newsletters for our new short video update on what the AAC is working on each week and what matters to you as a member. This is going to be a short, fun, and informative way for us to better stay connected.
Here is our first one! Thank you Dr. Stacey D for getting us going - you rock (even with a tickle in your throat ;)). Friday, March 5, Dr. Tuesday Wasserman will go over what we can do NEXT week to work to have acupuncture covered as an Essential Benefit.
Friday Dispatch 2-26 Video 1 Friday Dispatch 2-26 Video 2
Vaccines:
If you wish to be vaccinated and still have not, here are two links to search available appointments.
https://www.vaccinespotter.org/CO/ https://vaccinefinder.org/
We have been in communication with Boulder and Denver county public health and confirmed that they are no longer singling out acupuncturists as not able to be in Phase 2B. Acupuncturists absolutely can be vaccinated as a healthcare worker if you so wish. If you can’t find an appointment near you, remember, you can schedule an appointment in any county and won’t be turned away.
As for acupuncturists being on the list to dispense vaccines, for now, we are still not included or able. Dr. Steve Shomo and our lobbyist Lara Lee Hullinghorst are in continued communication with DORA helping them understand our educational background and safety standards. If anything changes, we will update you.
2020 and Covid have certainly highlighted how much more work we need to do to continue to educate regulators, other healthcare providers, and the general public on what we do, how much training and education we have, and that we are completely “safe”.
Thank you for your support of the AAC and your membership while we strive to continue to grow our acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine profession.
REMINDER:
The next Board meeting is this coming Sunday, March 7th at 10 am.
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kcuGqpzgrE9b-y3RQoO5AlLSjulEHp79f
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Also, the AAC is looking for 1 new board member at our Annual General Meeting. Ideally this will be someone who is interested in and has experience with strategic planning and governance. If this is you, or you know someone who would be willing to donate a few hours a month to help acupuncturists grow and help more people, please contact us at info@acucol.com
Thank you to everyone’s ongoing support in the King Sooper’s Community Reward Program! Every little bit counts.
If you don’t know, you can earn money for the AAC when you use your loyalty card at King Soopers or City Market. You, your family, and your friends can all help raise money for the AAC just by doing the shopping you already do.
Register your rewards card from King Soopers or City Market to the AAC Non-Profit Organization (NPO, number AP717), and the AAC will earn cash for purchases. It only takes a few moments to set it up. Here’s how:
Online
• Sign into your Kings Soopers/City Market account. New users please create an account.
• Look for King Soopers Community Rewards (or City Market) selection under the MENU > SAVINGS> KING SOOPERS COMMUNITY REWARDS tab.
• Search for the Acupuncture Association of Colorado either by name or AP717 and click enroll.
Phone app
• Sign into your Kings Soopers/City Market account on the phone app.
• Tap the 3 bars menu tab on the upper right. Tap Rewards. Tap Community Rewards.
• Follow the instructions for enrollment. Search for the Acupuncture Association of Colorado either by name or AP717 and click enroll.
Easy-peasy. It’s free money for the AAC that doesn’t cost you anything.
The AAC thanks you!
For any questions contact the AAC at 303.572.8744 or email info@acucol.com
Our mission is to advance the profession of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine as an integral component of health care in Colorado.
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