Should You Be Changing Your Fees This Year?

The landscape for acupuncture reimbursement is shifting significantly, with 2026 Medicare Relative Value Units (RVUs) seeing notable increases. This article highlights a multi-year trend where initial acupuncture codes have risen approximately 20% in value since 2024, followed by a 5% increase between 2025 and 2026. Because RVUs establish the payment ratios for services, these changes directly impact how much providers can collect for common CPT codes like 97810 and 97813.Understanding RVUs is vital because many states use them as a baseline for various insurance types, including workers’ compensation and personal injury. For instance, Michigan sets fees at 200% of Medicare, while Arizona uses a specific multiplier ($68) against the RVU to determine the allowed fee. The sources argue that practitioners who fail to update their fee schedules are effectively "leaving revenue on the table". By aligning practice fees with these updated federal standards, acupuncturists can ensure their business remains sustainable while accurately reflecting the evolving value of their clinical services in the broader medical market.