Practical and economic challenges of implementing group auricular acupuncture treatment for chronic pain in primary care.

This article focuses on the feasibility of implementing group auricular acupuncture (AA) for chronic musculoskeletal pain within a U.S. academic primary care clinic and the challenges related to insurance reimbursement. The study involved eight weekly group AA sessions billed to insurance, but recruitment was limited by COVID-19 restrictions and Medicare coverage concerns, resulting in only four privately insured participants. Patients reported positive experiences with the group format and AA treatment, though logistical and economic barriers, including complex billing requirements and credentialing restrictions, hinder sustainable implementation. Hypothetical reimbursement analyses suggested that group AA delivered by non-physician acupuncturists credentialed for insurance billing may be more economically viable than physician-delivered individual visits. The study concludes that group AA could improve access to acupuncture in primary care, but further research is needed to optimize delivery models and reimbursement strategies.