H.R. 1667 – Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act of 2025

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Updated November 24, 2025 at 2:23 AM UTC

The Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act of 2025 would expand Medicare to pay for acupuncture treatments. It defines who can provide “qualified acupuncturist services” – licensed acupuncturists, certified practitioners where licensing isn’t available, or physicians authorized to perform acupuncture – and adds those services to the list of Medicare‑covered items. The bill also adjusts payment and billing rules so providers can be reimbursed for these services, with the changes becoming effective about nine months after enactment.

Key Provisions

Adds “qualified acupuncturist services” to the list of services covered under Medicare, defining them as services provided by a licensed/accredited acupuncturist or a physician authorized to perform acupuncture in their state.
Specifies that a qualified acupuncturist is either a state‑licensed acupuncturist (or, where no license exists, someone meeting certification criteria set by the Secretary) or a physician permitted by state law to practice acupuncture.
Amends payment rules so that acupuncturist services are reimbursed under the physician fee schedule and can be billed separately by institutional providers, similar to other covered services.
Updates several Medicare billing sections to include qualified acupuncturist services alongside other practitioner services.
Sets the coverage and payment changes to take effect 270 days after the law is enacted.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Energy and Commerce Committee

February 27, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 27, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Energy and Commerce Committee

February 27, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 27, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1667

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 27, 2025

Ms. Chu (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for acupuncturist services under the Medicare program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act of 2025.

2.

Coverage for acupuncturist services under the Medicare program

(a)

In general

Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (s)(2)—

(A)

by adding and at the end of subparagraph (JJ); and

(B)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(KK)

qualified acupuncturist services (as defined in subsection (nnn)(1));

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(nnn)

Qualified acupuncturist services

(1)

In general

The term qualified acupuncturist services means such services furnished by a qualified acupuncturist (as defined in paragraph (2)), and such services and supplies furnished as an incident to services furnished by the qualified acupuncturist, as the qualified acupuncturist is legally authorized to perform under State law.

(2)

Qualified acupuncturist defined

For purposes of this subsection, the term qualified acupuncturist means—

(A)

an individual who is licensed as an acupuncturist by a State or, in the case of an individual in a State that does not provide for such licensure, meets such criteria (such as certification through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary may specify; or

(B)

a physician who is legally authorized to perform acupuncture as part of the practice of medicine and surgery by the State in which the physician performs such function or action.

In specifying requirements under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by a certification authority described in such subparagraph.

.

(b)

Payment rules

(1)

Payment under physician fee schedule

Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting (2)(KK), before (3),.

(2)

Separate payment for services of institutional providers

Section 1833(a)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(2)(B)) is amended—

(A)

in clause (i), by inserting and in the case of qualified acupuncturist services, after 1999,;

(B)

in clause (ii), by inserting or in the case of qualified acupuncturist services, after 1999,; and

(C)

in clause (iii), by inserting (other than qualified acupuncturist services) after such services.

(3)

Qualified acupuncturist treatment as a practitioner

Section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:

(ix)

A qualified acupuncturist (as defined in section 1861(nnn)(2)).

.

(4)

Separate billing for acupuncturist services furnished in an inpatient hospital setting

Section 1861(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(b)(4)) is amended by inserting qualified acupuncturist services, after qualified psychologist services,.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section apply with respect to services furnished on or after the date that is 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act.