New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Suspend Acupuncture Benefits to 9-11 Victims

Acupuncturists from all over the country flooded to local police departments, fire stations and the Javitz Center where FEMA staged its primary support effort, in the aftermath of 9-11. These acupuncturists provided daily emergency relief to those helping with this national trauma. Their heartfelt care helped sustain our local heroes through the emotional and physically grueling months that followed.

For the next 6 years the Red Cross provided funds through the 9-11 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program to all those affected by this calamity. This included families who lost loved ones, survivors, roommates of survivors, those who worked in the immediate area, those who lost work because of 9-11, teachers at schools near Ground Zero, police, firemen, and those construction workers who dealt with all aspects of clearing and cleansing the site. One of the many benefits included in this Program was the ability to receive up to 32 sessions of Auricular Acupuncture. This benefit could be used for either depression, anxiety, or Substance abuse related to mental health issues caused by the effects of 9-11. The primary form of acupuncture was auricular treatment that followed the NADA protocol.

Red Cross funding for this program recently came to an end on December 31, 2007. Since this program was so successful, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) recently decided implement their own similar program and adopt many parts of Red Cross model. However, the DHMH has decided not to insure acupuncture in any form as part of its benefits. They note that auricular therapy and acupuncture is not a proven mode of treatment and is poorly researched. The Department cites 12 studies since 1998 that show that auricular acupuncture is not definitive in treating PTSD, anxiety, depression, or substance abuse. Below is part of their published statement:

While we understand your belief in the usefulness of acupuncture, when developing this benefit program, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene decided to cover only services for which there was evidence of effectiveness in peer-reviewed scientific literature for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or problematic substance use, the psychological conditions most prevalent among people who were directly affected by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Appropriate use of taxpayer dollars requires this standard.

Peer-reviewed scientific literature does not support the use of auricular acupuncture as an effective treatment for PTSD, depression and problematic substance use. Though there was little evidence of harm or of substantial side effects associated with auricular acupuncture in the literature search that yielded 12 relevant studies published since 1998, which are attached to this email, there also was little evidence of relevant benefit. We offer these studies as objective evidence in support of the Department's judicious use of municipal funds.

The Acupuncture Society of New York (ASNY) now supports an effort to help convince the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to continue to provide acupuncture services to those suffering from the traumas of 9-11. In order to help convince the DHMH, both testimonials on the benefits to anyone who has been treated with acupuncture for PTSD or substance abuse and any research, published or unpublished, that can validate our claim that acupuncture is helpful for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, PTSD, loss or other psychological trauma are required for evidence. We believe that if the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene receives this information is a timely manner, they will reverse their decision to drop the acupuncture benefit.

This is an open request for all to submit any citations or research that you know of that may help our cause. You can submit those citations to President@asny.org or to Wendy Henry at acupuncturemobile@yahoo.com. Included at the bottom of this is a sample petition that you can circulate for your patients.

Thank You,

Peter D. Lichtenstein, D.C., C.C.S.P., L.Ac.
President, ASNY

Sample Petition:

Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
125 Worth St., 3rd Floor, room 331 cn38
New York, NY 10013

Dear Dr. Thomas Frieden,

We the undersigned implore you to include acupuncture as a covered benefit as part of the “9-11 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BENEFIT.”

The “9-11 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BENEFIT” that was funded through Red Cross resources included auricular acupuncture as a covered benefit. Unfortunately this benefit ended Dec. 31, 2007. In addition, other programs which offered the auricular acupuncture have been discontinued as funding has run out.

We have discovered that acupuncture has been highly effective in helping recover from the traumas of “9-11”. Acupuncture has improved our sleep, reduced our anxiety, reduced our cravings for alcohol and other substances and has helped us feel more calm. Auricular Acupuncture has notably improved our quality of life and helped us carry out our activities of daily living.

Having the “9-11 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BENEFIT” extended to include acupuncture coverage would enable us to continue treatment when we experience the need. Experiencing acupuncture, a non-verbal treatment method, has often prepared us to have more productive counseling sessions for those of us who have also chosen a more traditional counseling approach.

Please reconsider your decision to include acupuncture as a covered benefit in the “9-11 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Benefit.” You will be helping many people and New York City!

Sincerely,

Name | Signature | Address/Affiliation/comments