Acupuncture’s appeal as a complementary treatment for medical conditions like chronic pain, stress, and anxiety has been on the rise in recent years. As interest in complementary and alternative medicine grows, acupuncture has become a popular option for many people, including Veterans. Veterans have unique healthcare requirements, and acupuncture has been recognized by the VA for its potential benefits.
Acupuncturists who want to expand their businesses and help more patients may find that being a VA Community Care Provider in acupuncture is a satisfying alternative. By joining the VA Community Care Network, you may treat Veterans with acupuncture to help them alleviate their symptoms and improve their quality of life. But how does one become an acupuncturist VA Community Care Provider?
The Advantages of Acupuncture For Veterans
In comparison to traditional pain medicines, acupuncture’s popularity has been on the rise because of its efficacy and lack of invasiveness. Acupuncture treatments have been demonstrated to be effective in treating a variety of illnesses among veterans, and they impose minimum strain on the patient.
Pain Relief with Acupuncture:
The use of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for relieving pain is gaining popularity. When performed by a qualified acupuncturist, the minimally invasive method has a high safety profile. The VA recognises the efficacy of acupuncture for veterans with the following conditions, while continuing research suggests it may give more advantages than for pain management alone:
- Physical suffering caused by sickness or injury
- Post-operative nausea and vomiting
- Symptoms of nausea and vomiting brought on by chemotherapy
- Symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee
- Backache that starts low in the back
- Problems with your mental health, such as depression,
- Addiction to substances
It is unclear if acupuncture is more successful as a primary or supplementary treatment for veterans.
Opioid-Free Treatment Options: Acupuncture:
As an alternative to opioid medication prescriptions, acupuncture has the potential to become a first-line treatment for pain management. The number of military personnel prescribed opioids has been decreasing, thanks in part to acupuncture and other natural practises. 26% of military members received a prescription for an opioid drug in 2011. The introduction of complementary therapies like acupuncture has helped reduce this percentage in the military forces.
Acupuncture has many health advantages, and veterans can get them without having to fill a prescription for opioids. Acupuncture is an effective, side-effect-free alternative to opioid medication for treating acute and chronic pain.
Reducing PTSD Symptoms with Acupuncture:
Acupuncture may be useful in the treatment of PTSD and other stress-related illnesses; however, additional study is needed to confirm this. Veterans’ rates of PTSD have fluctuated greatly over time and conflict. Over 13% of Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers in one large research were diagnosed with PTSD; other studies put that number as high as 30%.
Over forty percent of persons have negative health issues owing to stress, and seventy to ninety percent of primary care doctor visits are for stress-related illnesses, as reported by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). Acupuncture and other holistic practices have been shown to be effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder. The effects of acupuncture on the quality of life and health of service personnel and veterans cannot be overstated.
Common Services Provided By VA Community Care Providers in Acupuncture
You can provide a variety of services to Veterans as an acupuncturist VA Community Care Provider. VA Community Care Providers provide a variety of acupuncture treatments, including the ones listed below.
Reducing PTSD Symptoms with Acupuncture:
Acupuncture Therapy
Acupuncture is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine that includes the insertion of very thin needles into various acupuncture sites on the body in order to promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself. In addition to relieving chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of other medical disorders. In order to treat Veterans and assist them in controlling their symptoms, you must become a VA Community Care Provider in acupuncture.
Electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture is a type of acupuncture in which electrical stimulation is used to the needles to increase their therapeutic benefits. Chronic pain, nausea, and anxiety are just some of the many illnesses that can be helped by electroacupuncture. You can provide electroacupuncture to Veterans who could benefit from it if you are a VA Community Care Provider in acupuncture.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine that includes applying heat to acupuncture sites by burning dried mugwort. Pain and digestive problems are only two of the many diseases that may be treated with moxibustion. If you’re an acupuncturist and a VA Community Care Provider, you can use moxibustion in your treatments for Veterans.
Cupping
Traditional Chinese medicine includes the use of cups and suction to treat various ailments. Pain, inflammation, and breathing problems are just some of the diseases that might benefit from cupping therapy. If you are a qualified acupuncturist and a VA Community Care Provider, you can include cupping therapy in your treatment plans for Veterans.
How to Start a Career in Acupuncture as a VA Community Care Provider
Acquiring the appropriate training and credentials in acupuncture is required to work as a VA Community Care Provider. How to Become an Acupuncture VA Community Care Provider
Get the training and education you need.
A master’s degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from an approved programme is required to become a VA Community Care Provider in acupuncture. In some cases, you may additionally have to take and pass the NCCAOM test, administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Since you’ll be interacting with Veterans and other medical experts, you’ll also need strong verbal and interpersonal skills.
Get Your Licence
In order to legally treat patients with acupuncture, you will need to become licenced in your state. To obtain a licence, you must meet the standards set out by your state, which may include taking and passing a board test. The website of your state’s acupuncture board should provide details on the prerequisites for obtaining a licence in your jurisdiction.
Conducting a History Verification
A background check is required before a licence may be issued. Background checks conducted by the FBI and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are required of VA Community Care Providers, according the VA Community Care Network website. In Florida, for instance, applicants must utilise a DBPR-approved electronic fingerprinting service provider. The Florida Electronic Fingerprinting Service is a widely used authorised vendor.
The Licence Application Process
You can apply for a licence from the acupuncture board in your state once you’ve finished the necessary coursework and background check. The NCCAOM will want proof of your education, clinical experience, and certification.
Preparing for the Test
Getting your licence may need more than just passing the NCCAOM test. Some of the topics that might be on the state board test are acupuncture theory, finding the points, safety and ethics, and clinical practise.
Acquiring One’s Permit
A state acupuncture licence will be issued to you once you’ve satisfied all eligibility conditions in that jurisdiction. Now that you’re an approved VA Community Care Provider for acupuncture, you can start helping Veterans all throughout the country.
Sign up as a VA Community Care Network provider.
to Veterans through the VA Community Care Network. The VA Community Care Network website is where interested parties may discover registration information and learn more about what it takes to become a VA Community Care Provider.
Obtaining VA Community Care Provider Certification
There is a stringent set of criteria that must be met before an individual may offer acupuncture treatments via the VA Community Care Network. All licences, certificates, and registrations must be current, as well as professional liability insurance and adherence to VA Community Care Provider regulations and procedures.
Provide acupuncture treatments to military personnel.
You will be allowed to offer acupuncture treatments to Veterans through the VA Community Care Network once you have fulfilled all of the prerequisites. You will coordinate care for Veterans with their doctors and other medical professionals to provide the best possible outcomes from treatment. It’s possible the VA Community Care Network will want you to report your caregiving activities in their electronic health record system.
In Conclusion
A career in acupuncture with the VA as a community care provider can be rewarding for individuals who wish to serve veterans. If a veteran is interested in becoming an acupuncturist, they can do so by following the methods mentioned in this article. Veterans who are qualified for VA benefits can also get financial aid to help them complete their education and enter this field of work. Follow the procedures in this page if you are a veteran who is interested in becoming a licenced acupuncturist for the VA community care network. This includes obtaining a background check from a provider recognised by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Our nation’s veterans deserve the greatest care possible, and we can give it to them if we work together.
Do not forget to obtain a background check done by an FDLE-approved service. The Florida Board of Medicine is where you should go to learn about licence requirements and submit an application. If you put in the time and effort, you may join the VA community care network and have a positive impact on the lives of our nation’s veterans.
Faqs
Does the VA Accept Medicare or Medicaid as Payment?
Neither Medicare nor Medicaid will be billed by the VA at this time. Veterans may learn more about Medicare’s new prescription medication coverage, though.
Will the VA Pay for Massage Therapy?
The VA’s Whole Health programme includes coverage for complementary integrative health (CIH) practises such clinical massage treatment. The provider has completed the necessary prerequisite training or additional education in massage therapy and maintains all current licences and certifications.
How Do You Qualify as a VA-Approved Acupuncture Clinic?
To provide the greatest quality of treatment for veterans, acupuncturists must be appropriately licenced and complete the appropriate training criteria based on the scope of their practise.
Which Acupuncture Treatments Does the VA Pay for?
Providers may also qualify to become certified in Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) in addition to regular acupuncture. Needles are inserted into the ear as part of the BFA acupuncture technique to alleviate discomfort. Since the ear is seen to be a microcosm of the body, BFA practitioners often inject tiny needles into the ear to alleviate pain elsewhere.
