Elizabeth Chen Christenson, MD, LAc, is the founding Medical Director of CHI Lifestyle Medical Center, a private practice in Integrative Family Medicine in Kailua, Hawaii. Dr. Christenson’s unique blend of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, Qigong and herbal remedies, coordinates seamlessly with regenerative, aesthetic medicine, and cellular rejuvenation.
Dr. Christenson is a Certified Harp Practitioner and uses the power of music to relax the mind, inspire the spirit and motivate cellular regeneration. She also specializes in physical rejuvenation practices and non-toxic treatments for emotional rebalancing that can be effective in pain management, allergic responses, cancer and many other ailments.
In addition to her private practice, she teaches integrative medicine to medical students, and is a co-founder of the Hawaii-based non-profit GAMA (Global Advancements in Medical Arts).
MEDICARE UPDATE:
On January 21, 2020, in response to the opioid crisis, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a decision to cover acupuncture for Medicare patients with chronic low back pain.
Chronic low back pain is defined as (from Medicare.gov):
Lasting 12 weeks or longer
Not having a known cause (for example, not related to cancer that has spread, or an infectious or inflammatory disease)
Pain that isn’t associated with surgery or pregnancy
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers up to 12 acupuncture visits in 90 days for chronic low back pain.
Medicare covers an additional 8 sessions if you show improvement. If you aren't showing improvement, Medicare won't cover your additional treatments and they should be discontinued. You can get a maximum of 20 acupuncture treatments in a 12-month period.
Note: Not all providers can give acupuncture, and Medicare can't directly pay Licensed Acupuncturists for their services. Medicare also doesn't cover acupuncture (including dry needling) for any condition other than chronic low back pain.
You must get acupuncture from a doctor, or by another health care provider (like a nurse practitioner or physician assistant) who has both of these:
- A masters or doctoral level degree in acupuncture or Oriental Medicine from a school accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
- A current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice acupuncture in the state where you're getting care
Note: Being a licensed Medical Doctor and Acupuncture, Dr. Elizabeth Chen Christenson, MD, LAc is fully accredited to do this work.