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Sarah Shupe, L.Ac., M.A.O.M. Vital Body and Mind Therapies 2201 Mount Vernon Ave—Ground Floor Alexandria, VA 22301
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Phone: 703-217-7124 E-mail: info@acupuncturealexandria.com |
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Licensed Acupuncturist |
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Sarah Shupe, L.Ac., M.A.O.M. |
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Visit and Fees |
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The first visit The first visit usually lasts around 1 1/2 hours. Wear loose comfortable clothing, or bring something to change into. Eat a little something before you come. Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early to fill out paperwork. If you have a referral or chart notes you would like me to see, please bring those as well. The first visit includes a thorough intake, usually lasting 30-45 minutes. You will be asked about your primary complaint as well as your general health history. This will give a complete picture of how your body functions. Often a pulse and tongue diagnosis are done. This helps identify meridians and patterns involved in your disorder. Next we will discuss a treatment plan. Initially this often includes 2-3 visits per week. The last part of the visit involves the needling session itself. The needles are inserted and then left in from 20 to 40 minutes.
The treatment plan A typical course of treatment is 10 treatments. You will most likely be asked to come in 2-3 times a week for 3 to 5 weeks. Once you are feeling better, the frequency of treatments will be spaced out until only maintenance treatments of 3-4 times a year are required. Everyone responds differently to acupuncture, so it is hard to say the total number of treatments you will need. Generally the longer and more complicated the problem, the more treatments you will need to remedy it. In most cases patients see a notable decrease in symptoms during the first course of treatment.
Follow-up visits Follow up visits are shorter, lasting about an hour. Like the first treatment, wear or bring loose comfortable clothing and eat a little something before you come in. There is a short intake, then the needles are put in and again left for 20 to 40 minutes.
After your treatments Make sure you stay hydrated! Acupuncture releases toxins from your tissues that need to be flushed out. Follow any diet and/or lifestyle instructions given to you. These are for your benefit and will increase the results from treatment. If you are given herbs, take them as prescribed. You will have to take them 2 to 3 times a day for maximum results. Take time every day to breathe and relax. Remember, stress is one of the primary contributors to many disorders.
Fees Initial acupuncture treatment: $145 Follow-up acupuncture treatments: $90 Initial acupuncture treatment with prompt pay discount*: $130 Follow-up acupuncture treatments with prompt pay discount*: $80 Cupping only: $40; with acupuncture treatment: (add) $15 Herbal medications are separate and range in price from $10 - $25 per week
*Prompt pay discount is for payment at time of service. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Packages and insurance coverage I offer a 20% discount on pre-paid packages of 6 or more regularly priced treatments. I currently participate with the three health networks listed below. Patients with health insurance companies that participate with these networks may be eligible for a discount or coverage for their visits. Healthways WholeHealth Networks, Inc. - 20% discount on acupuncture treatments. Plans from the following insurance companies may be applicable: · Aetna EAP · BCBS Association FEP · Humana American Specialty Health Networks, Inc. - discounted fee and some acupuncture coverage. Plans from the following insurance companies may be applicable: · Providence Health Plan (Acupuncture Network Access Benefit Plan) · Anthem Southeast · Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic · Aetna American Complementary Care - 20% discount on acupuncture treatments. · United Healthcare Please call your insurance company to verify benefits before you schedule your first appointment. Many insurance companies only cover acupuncture for certain conditions - pain syndromes and certain types of nausea related to chemotherapy or pregnancy. Your insurance company may only cover a limited number of treatments. You may be responsible to pay for treatments until you meet your deductible. Make sure you clearly understand your benefits before you start treatment.
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