DWC Reminds Payers That Acupuncture Remains Compensable

Just because Medicare and Medicaid don’t pay for acupuncture doesn’t mean California employers and workers’ compensation carriers don’t have to. The Division of Workers’ Compensation issued a Newsline on Wednesday reminding payers that acupuncture continues to remain within the definition of “medical treatment” under California Labor Code Section 4600, and employers or their insurers must pay for it if it is medically necessary. The DWC said it received questions from the public after a July 1 change to the physician fee schedule that adopt...