# Plain Language Summary: Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act of 2025

Right now, Medicare—the health insurance program for people 65 and older—doesn't cover acupuncture services. This bill would change that by adding acupuncture to the list of treatments Medicare will pay for. If this bill becomes law, seniors would be able to get acupuncture treatments covered by Medicare, just like they currently get coverage for other medical services.

The bill defines who can provide these covered acupuncture services. It includes licensed acupuncturists (people who have a state license to practice acupuncture) and doctors who are authorized to perform acupuncture as part of their medical practice. In states that don't license acupuncturists, the bill allows people who are certified by a nationally recognized acupuncture certification organization to provide covered services. This ensures that only qualified practitioners can bill Medicare for acupuncture.

The bill also sets up how Medicare will pay for these services. Acupuncturists would be paid using the same fee schedule that Medicare uses to pay doctors, and the payment rules would work similarly to how Medicare currently handles other types of medical services. The coverage would start about nine months after the bill is signed into law, giving Medicare time to set up the necessary systems and rules.

For seniors, this means acupuncture could become an affordable treatment option for managing pain and other conditions, since Medicare would cover the cost rather than seniors having to pay out of pocket. However, the bill doesn't specify which conditions acupuncture would treat or any limits on how many treatments Medicare would cover—those details would be decided by Medicare administrators after the law passes.

Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act of 2025

Chu, Judy

Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act of 2025This bill provides for Medicare coverage of acupuncturist services, including those provided by a physician (as authorized under state law).