A. General

Acupuncture is the selection and manipulation of specific acupuncture points by a variety of needling and non-needling techniques.

B. Nationally Covered Indications

Effective for claims with dates of service on and after January 21, 2020, acupuncture is only covered for chronic low back pain under section 1862(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (the Act). See National Coverage Determination section 30.3.3 for specific coverage criteria.

C. Nationally Non-Covered Indications

Medicare reimbursement for acupuncture, as an anesthetic, or as an analgesic or for other therapeutic purposes, may not be made unless the specific indication is excepted. All indications for acupuncture outside of NCD section 30.3.3 remain non-covered.

D. Other

N/A

(This NCD last reviewed January 2020.)