Source: San Francisco Standard
... The latest state budget proposal excludes acupuncture from the state-subsidized Medi-Cal services for low-income and vulnerable individuals, sparking a furious backlash from patients and the Chinese American community—especially in San Francisco.
... Phil Ting, a Chinese American Assembly Member from San Francisco, was a major supporter of restoring acupuncture benefits to Medi-Cal in 2016. He said he will push for acupuncture during the state budget process again.
“While I understand the fiscal difficulties the state is facing,” Ting said, “I worry that cutting this critical service would disproportionately impact lower-income, underserved patients relying on acupuncture every day to treat crippling pain.”