Clinic Updates Archives - Mend Acupuncture

Mend’s Efforts Towards a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Organization
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Mend’s Efforts Towards a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Organization

Clinic Updates

Mend’s Efforts Towards a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Organization

By Mend Acupuncture|2024-04-10T17:21:13-04:00March 15th, 2024|Categories: Clinic Updates|Tags: access, belonging, DEIB, diversity, equitable, inclusion|

Ease and accessibility are our core values. They drive us to deliver acupuncture services that are as easy to access as they are to understand. Paving the path to ease, one needle at a time, by offering: flexible financial options convenient locations full insurance billing team extended hours same-day appointments empowering DIY tools and education group practice model that offers choice to a diverse patient base Increasing Accessibility We continuously explore ways to increase accessibility to care. Mend is a VA Choice Program provider which allows us to provide no-cost care to U.S. Veterans enrolled in the VA Choice [...]

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Upcoming Price Changes
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Upcoming Price Changes

Clinic Updates

Upcoming Price Changes

By mca_sarah|2023-09-21T10:31:20-04:00September 20th, 2023|Categories: Clinic Updates|

Since the start of this year, operating costs have risen significantly. Despite all efforts to stay “lean,” for every $1 earned we’ve had to spend $1.06 to cover operating expenses. The increase in our costs have put us in an unsustainable position. To continue offering care to the community, we will increase our One on One Acupuncture* and Massage session fees by $10-15 effective October 15, 2023. Please see our new rates below: One on One Acupuncture New Patient: $150 Current Patient: $100 *Out-of-pocket fee. We will continue to bill insurance when coverage is available. [...]

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Changes to Insurance Billing
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Changes to Insurance Billing

Clinic Updates, Insurance

Changes to Insurance Billing

By mca_sarah|2023-09-12T12:04:23-04:00September 6th, 2023|Categories: Clinic Updates, Insurance|

In the past, Mend has always written off patient copay and coinsurance amounts related to additional therapies during acupuncture visits such as gua sha, cupping, moxa, etc. Through agreements with private insurers, we were able to make our services as accessible as possible. Unfortunately, private insurance compensation began changing in 2022, leading to a 20% reduction in reimbursements. To recoup this loss, we have been working with insurance negotiators and billing consultants. Despite these efforts, insurers continue to pay below market value, significantly lower than our out-of-pocket rate, despite the substantial administrative burden. Due to this change, we are no [...]

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New Mask Policy
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New Mask Policy

Clinic Updates

New Mask Policy

By mca_sarah|2023-05-10T10:58:56-04:00May 5th, 2023|Categories: Clinic Updates|Tags: covid, mask|

Over the last three years, we've followed Johns Hopkins Medicine's COVID guidelines to safeguard our patients, colleagues, and community, particularly those at higher risk of severe infection. On April 24, JHU revised their masking policy. Accordingly, effective May 15, Mend will also adjust its masking policy. We still take infection control seriously at Mend. We will continue to use sanitation measures such as increased HEPA filtration in our treatment rooms, sanitize treatment tables between each patient, use only disposable supplies, and offer masks for staff and patients. Well-fitted KN95 masks continue to demonstrate protection to [...]

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6 Reasons to Keep Your MMCC Card After July 1
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6 Reasons to Keep Your MMCC Card After July 1

Cannabis, Clinic Updates

6 Reasons to Keep Your MMCC Card After July 1

By Jaime Kauffman|2023-06-27T16:04:36-04:00April 17th, 2023|Categories: Cannabis, Clinic Updates|Tags: 2023, cannabis, cannabis certification, July 1, Maryland Medical Marijuana Card, MMCC|

Starting on July 1, 2023, adults age 21 and older will be able to buy cannabis in Maryland from recreational dispensaries. This means that the general public will now be able to purchase vapes, gummies, pre-rolled joints, edibles and more from about 100 dispensaries statewide. It is expected that dispensaries are going to be quite busy from now on. For example, Missouri had less than 100 days to get its recreational industry up and running, with sales starting early February. Nearly instantly, monthly cannabis sales tripled and have since stayed at that level. However, there are a number of [...]

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Get to Know Sarah H: Q+A
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Get to Know Sarah H: Q+A

Acupuncturists, Clinic Updates

Get to Know Sarah H: Q+A

By mca_sarah|2022-12-07T08:05:37-05:00December 4th, 2022|Categories: Acupuncturists, Clinic Updates|Tags: Canton, Q+A, Sarah Humpal|

This month, we see Sarah Humpal advance as Canton's Site Captain. Sarah has been with Mend in a variety of capacities since 2015. Before choosing to pursue acupuncture professionally, Sarah worked in the non-profit arena and in program, policy, and operations analysis in federal and local government. After working in a variety of settings and communities, Sarah chose acupuncture as she was inspired by the medicine's ability to improve an individual's health and wellbeing, while also acknowledging the external factors that contribute to or limit our wellness. With Sarah's experience and interests, we look forward to her stepping into [...]

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Reflecting on Spaces: Canton Sneak Peek
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Reflecting on Spaces: Canton Sneak Peek

Clinic Updates

Reflecting on Spaces: Canton Sneak Peek

By mca_sarah|2022-11-15T14:05:18-05:00November 15th, 2021|Categories: Clinic Updates|Tags: Canton, Design, spaces|

Before I was an acupuncturist I was a social worker (Sarah O here). I worked in a space that I felt apologetic for – the carpet was stained, the furniture was torn, it felt like it could never really get clean. The clients coming in were in transition and often from unsafe situations at home. Arguably the look of the spaces intended to help them find security should not matter, but to me it felt like it mattered. A space and how it is cared for tells a story about how we value the people coming in its doors. [...]

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Letter from the Owner: An anniversary of shut-down & awakening
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Letter from the Owner: An anniversary of shut-down & awakening

Clinic Updates

Letter from the Owner: An anniversary of shut-down & awakening

By mca_sarah|2022-11-15T14:06:04-05:00March 17th, 2021|Categories: Clinic Updates|Tags: anniversary, covid, letter from the owner, reflection, shutdown, spring|

Photo by Tim Mossholder It’s an unmistakable anniversary this week, that marks the start of a year of collective suffering, incredible loss and mass awakening. This time last year we, like many small businesses, sent all our people home and laid off many. At first, we thought this was just for two weeks, but then quickly reality sank in that this was magical thinking. The twelve months to come would serve as a test of endurance: What resources would last? Which individuals and relationships would stand the isolation? How resilient and varied would our coping be? To be honest, [...]

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Mend Mix Vol. 2
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Mend Mix Vol. 2

Clinic Updates, Self-Care, What we're listening to

Mend Mix Vol. 2

By JaimeRoslyn|2022-11-15T14:06:42-05:00August 5th, 2020|Categories: Clinic Updates, Self-Care, What we're listening to|Tags: ambient, healing, mend mix, music, sounds, soundscape|

For relaxation and respite. A mix of BIPOC, womxn and gender "ambient" artists, both locally and beyond, who celebrate soundscapes, nature, introspection, and philosophies in line with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Click here for Mend Mix Vol. 1 Artist Info Track 1 Parlor Palm Green-House LA-based non-binary artist Olive Ardizoni crafts songs that find freedom through simplicity Track 2 Nami Meiti Japanese producer with deep reverence for history and uses sound to recapture a lost “Japanese mood" Track 3 Water Memory [...]

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The End of Innocence: A mid-year reflection letter from an adolescent small business.
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The End of Innocence: A mid-year reflection letter from an adolescent small business.

Clinic Updates, Mend 2.0

The End of Innocence: A mid-year reflection letter from an adolescent small business.

By mca_sarah|2022-11-15T14:06:43-05:00July 29th, 2020|Categories: Clinic Updates, Mend 2.0|Tags: coronavirus, covid, Erik Erickson, joy, letter from the owner, Milagros Phillips, reflection, Sarah O'Leary|

We closed the doors to our acupuncture clinics mid-March and cracked open again in June, with all new processes and feeling like a wobbly new business again after 14 years. Two months in and we’re grateful for each day that we can open up shop and offer some TLC. And of course, we’re humbled by the year, too. Recently, Milagros Phillips (a wise human and race literacy facilitator by trade) shared her observation that many people and businesses are experiencing an “end of innocence.” We are facing uncertainty in our individual and collective economic state, concerns for our public [...]

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