Expanding Veterans’ Access to Acupuncture

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is making a significant stride toward improving U.S. veterans' access to integrative care, including acupuncture, through the rollout of external provider scheduling (EPS). This new cloud-based tool modernizes VA scheduling and drastically simplifies community care coordination. EPS allows VA schedulers to book approved appointments directly into a community provider's system in real time, which includes referral numbers. This streamlined process reduces the administrative burden on practitioners by eliminating delays from phone calls and faxes. The service is provided at no cost to the provider, integrates with over 150 electronic health record (EHR) systems, and ensures patient record security by not accessing or storing files. Importantly, providers retain full control over the appointment slots shared with the VA. A mandatory requirement for acupuncturists seeking VA credentialing is active NCCAOM board certification, ensuring veterans receive care from providers meeting the highest national standards. The NCCAOM and the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) are encouraging all qualified providers to explore participation to expand access to safe and effective care for those who have served.