Preparing For Your Appointment
Thank you for choosing Wú Wéi Wellness for your healing! We want to outline what you can expect financially both from our clinic and what you should expect in general in seeking acupuncture services.
Legislation in Oregon has designated acupuncture as an essential health benefit. Now all private insurers in the state of Oregon are required to include acupuncture benefits. Specifically, minimally, 12 visits per year. If used primarily for medical care, you may also be eligible to use your FSA (Flex Spending Account) to purchase herbal medicine.
Contact your insurance provider to learn what kind of care is covered. Here are a few questions to ask:
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Do I need a referral?
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Do I have a co-pay?
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Do I have a deductible?
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Does my deductible need to be met before benefits are covered?
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Has my deductible been met?
We do not accept Medicare/Medicaid at this time. It is important for you to know that as of 2023, Medicare does not pay for acupuncture performed by a licensed acupuncturist, but some insurance companies offer a supplemental plan that does. Medicare covers acupuncture performed for low back pain that a medical doctor performs. Oregon Health Plan (OHP) offers acupuncture coverage only for certain conditions, and you will need a doctor’s referral.
We will bill for both Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) and Workers' Compensation** claims. Another thing to note regarding MVAs is that all Oregon auto insurance policies have no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) healthcare coverage. What this means is that if you are injured in an auto, bicycle, or pedestrian accident, your auto insurance provides a minimum of one year and $15,000 in no-fault medical coverage - which includes acupuncture. **Acupuncture requires a referral from an MD or DC in order to bill for Workers' Compensation.**
Lastly, the IRS recognizes our services as a qualified medical expense, which you may find beneficial when preparing your income tax return. Speak with your tax advisor for more information.
So, does Wú Wéi Wellness accept health insurance?
Yes! Please upload your insurance and demographic information completely into the patient portal when you book your first clinic appointment. We will bill your insurance company directly from the information you upload. If your plan requires prior authorization and/or medical necessity review, please notify us before your first visit. Ultimately, if we are unable to obtain payment for your services, the responsibility of payment will be yours.
We will update the in-network list regularly with any changes.
Dr. Amber Hincks is in-network with most major insurance carriers, including, but not limited to, Kaiser, CHP, Pacific Source, Aetna, MODA, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon (and many other states), Providence, and United Healthcare (out-of-network with Medicare under United Healthcare).
What if the provider is out-of-network?
As an out-of-network provider for Medicare, First Choice, Multi Plan, Cigna, Health Net, and OHP, payments are collected at the time of service.
Any out-of-network plans require full payment at the time of service. Don't hesitate to contact your insurance company with any questions regarding your coverage and submitting invoices for reimbursement.
Wú Wéi Wellness is happy to provide a receipt and Superbill (an itemized form used by healthcare providers for insurance claims) to submit for reimbursement from your insurance company. Depending on individual out-of-network benefits, patients have received up to 50-85% of reimbursement from their insurance providers or have services go toward reducing their deductible. Patients are responsible for contacting their insurance provider to verify out-of-network benefits before appointments.
What are my payment options?
We accept all major credit cards, cash, and checks, as well as HSA (Health Savings Account), HRA (Health Retirement Account), and FSA (Flex Spending Account).
What if I can't make my appointment?
Appointments must be canceled or rescheduled 24 hours or more prior to the time of the appointment. We reserve the right to bill you the full cost of your session or any appointment canceled or rescheduled without 24 hours notice. A no-call/no-show will be charged the full price of the treatment missed and must be paid before another appointment can be scheduled or administered.