Evaluation of health outcomes for members of a managed care organization referred for acupuncture

Background: A community health center clinic specializing in acupuncture partnered with a large managed care organization to determine whether acupuncture treatment might influence clinical outcomes and costs of care. Members of the managed care organization were referred through their physicians to receive up to 20 treatments. Results of the first 4 years of project will be presented. Methods: Data for this observational assessment were collected on patient demographics, health history, clinical outcomes, and associated costs of care. All patients received individualized acupuncture treatments provided by licensed acupuncturists according to standards of care. Results: Data were collected on 307 individuals who were referred for acupuncture treatment. Eighty percent were female, 45% were Hispanic/Latino, 10% were African-American, and mean age was 38 years; 266 individuals received one or more acupuncture treatments. 71% were referred for pain and 18% were referred for headache. Mean reduction in pain based on a 10-point Likert scale was -2.3 (p < 0.0001) and mean reduction in days/month affected by pain was 12.8 (p < 0.0001). Duration of painful episodes decreased (p = 0.0003) and quality of life improved as indicated by the SF1 (p < 0.0001). Headache intensity levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.0002) as was headache frequency (p = 0.03). Preliminary cost estimates suggest a decrease in other healthcare costs ($40/member/month) and increased likelihood that individuals who received acupuncture continued their membership in the managed care plan. Conclusions: Preliminary results indicate that offering acupuncture in a community health setting is acceptable and desirable by patients and physicians. Favorable clinical and cost-of-care outcomes were observed.