There are two types of acupuncture business models: community acupuncture and private acupuncture. There are also two types of acupuncturists in NY: certified and licensed acupuncturists. Below we discuss what each of these are, and then we provide a list of acupuncturists by area, listing if they are private or community acupuncture and certified or licensed acupuncturists.
Community Acupuncture typically has a sliding scale of $20-50 (you pay what you can afford) and does not accept insurance. Treatments occur in a group setting in one large room with between 5-10 people resting in the same room. Talking is kept to a minimum.
Private Acupuncture has a set price, and ranges from $65-200. Many providers are in network with insurances, but if they are not, you will still be able to ask for a copy of treatment notes with codes to submit to insurance. Treatments occur in a private room with a closed door and will be tailored specifically to you. You are encouraged to talk with your provider and let them know how you are doing week to week.
Licensed Acupuncturists are what you will normally see when you visit an acupuncturist. Licensed acupuncturists have a 3-4 years Masters degree in Acupuncture and around 3000-4000 hours of experience. They pass national board exams and are licensed by their state. Their education includes medical training like pathology, orthopedics, medical terminology, learning and palpating muscles and joints, nutrition, hours of memorizing points and needling points on each other, acupuncture theory (how to select points so that the points in a treatment work together), and acupuncture diagnosis (created by looking at tongue, feeling the pulse quality, looking at signs and symptoms and health history) and much more. This training also includes a year of treating paying patients while being mentored by a senior acupuncturist. Licensed acupuncturists are also often certified herbalists as most schools offer Chinese herbology in their training programs.
Certified Acupuncturists are medical doctors who attend a 300 hour training to be able to practice acupuncture or hire acupuncturists. This gives them info on the basics of acupuncture points, but with very little acupuncture theory or acupuncture pathology. Instead they use solely western pathology and diagnostics methods. Thus they refer to themselves as medical acupuncturists. They are great if you have a complicated medical issue and prefer to work with a medical doctor doing acupuncture, as their office may be equipped to handle serious emergencies.
Physical therapists are able to practice acupuncture legally in some states, but this is not legal in NY. As licensed acupuncturists have a 3-4 year degree and a few thousand hours of training in acupuncture most of us consider this a safety hazard. This is because many of those states require less training for physical therapists than even the medical doctor’s requirements of 300 hours. However, it comes down to lobbying, and there are many states without a substantial population of acupuncturists to offer this care or advocate for patient safety. We think PTs are incredibly helpful to patients in so many ways! We just believe in more training to do acupuncture safely with patients.
Glens Falls, NY
| ADK Sports Acupuncture & Wellness Alyx Resnick (Soesman) Licensed Acupuncturist Private Acupuncture Located at Massage Works 26 Saratoga Ave. Glens Falls, NY 12803 518-691-4401 http://www.adkacusports.com Fees: $90 first visit/Initial intake. All Acupuncture Nirvana patients will have initial intake fees waived. $60 follow up for 60 min/1 side or $90 for 90 min/2 sides. Insurance: She will not be taking insurance the first year but expects to begin taking it the second year of having her own business. | North Country Holistic Care Diane McDonnell Certified Acupuncturist Private Acupuncture 461 Glen Street Glens Falls, NY 12801 518-745-5889 http://www.northcountryholistic.com Fees: $200 first visit/initial intake, $100 follow up Insurance: CDPHP, Medicare (traditional), Medicaid, Aetna |
| The Acupuncture Studio Brooke Wood Licensed Acupuncturist Community Acupuncture 54 Sanford Street Glens Falls, NY 518-615-0505 http://www.theacupuncturestudio.com Fee: $10 paperwork fee + fee of $20-30 for first visit/initial intake. $20-30 sliding scale fee (pay what you can afford) for follow ups. Insurance: Does not accept insurance. | Adirondack Community Acupuncture Warren McNaughton Licensed Acupuncturist Community Acupuncture 366 Aviation Road Queensbury, NY 12804 518-791-1779 http://www.adkca.com Fee: $$30-50 for both first visit/initial intake and follow up fee. Insurance: Does not accept insurance but will give patient a receipt to submit to insurances who have out of network benefits. |
Saratoga Springs, NY
| Turtle Moon Acupuncture Dana Ballassi Licensed Acupuncturist Private Acupuncture Located at the Garden 434 Church Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 206-579-8267 http://www.turtlemoonacupuncture.com Fee: $80 first visit/Initial Intake and $65 for follow up visits. Insurance:MVP, ASH, First Choice, LifeWise, Healthways, Aetna, Cigna, Uniform & Empire BCBS, United Healthcare | Ageless Acupuncture Bridgette Shea Licensed Acupuncturist Private Acupuncture 47 Franklin Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-450-1945 http://www.agelessinsaratoga.com Fee: $175 first visit/initial intake and follow ups are $125 an hour plus $25 each additional 15 minutes Insurance: Does not accept insurance but will give patients a receipt to submit to insurances who have out of network benefits. |
Burnt Hills, NY
WomanCare Acupuncture & Herbs
Emily Rieffel
Licensed Acupuncturist
Private Acupuncture
8819 Saratoga Road
Burnt Hills, NY 12027
518-288-8431
http://www.womancare-acupuncture.com
Fee: $115 first visiit/initial intake and $75 for follow up visits
Pediatric acupuncture follow ups: $52 for ages 3-10 years old
Insurance: Aetna, CDPHP, Cigna, Empire BCBS (Anthem), Empire Plan (NYSHIP), MVP, United Heatlhcare
Greenwich & Ballston Spa, NY
| Fly Again Acupuncture Alicia Askew Licensed Acupuncturist Private Acupuncture 61 Rowland Street, Suite 221 Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-855-1455 http://www.flyagainacupuncture.com Fee: $80 first visit/initial intake and $70 for follow up visits Insurance: Does not accept insurance but will give patients a receipt to submit to insurances who have out of network benefits. | Fly Again Acupuncture Alicia Askew Licensed Acupuncturist Private Acupuncture 70 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 518-855-1455 http://www.flyagainacupuncture.com Fee: $80 first visit/initial intake and $70 for follow up visits Insurance: Does not accept insurance but will give patients a receipt to submit to insurances who have out of network benefits. |
Clifton Park, NY
518 Acupuncture
Ashley Wells
Licensed Acupuncturist
Private Acupuncture
12 Corporate Drive,
Clifton Park, New York 12065
518-416-1846
https://518acu.com
Fee: Call for more info
Insurance: CDPHP, MVP, United Healthcare
Albany, NY
Leah Rainer Acupuncture
Leah Rainer
Licensed Acupuncturist
Private Acupuncture
350 Northern Blvd, Suite 305
Albany, NY 12204
518-227-9782
https://www.leahacupuncture.com/
Fee: $80 per session for first visit/initial intake and follow ups
Insurance: No insurance but can take flex spending and HSA Cards
Acupuncture Nirvana 