On September 28, Illinois announced the benchmark plan for  Essential Health Benefits in Illinois. It does not include acupuncture. This choice will be reviewed for 2016. ILaaom believes that continued growth of the evidence base for AOM will cause reconsideration of this decision in less than 2 years. We will plan for that, with your support.

 ILaaom's presence at two  Health Care Reform Implementation Council meetings our petition, and our comments were all noted.  Of 114 total comments registered this month, 17 were to favor acupuncture; our petition delivered 800 signatures by the deadline, ~1200 total.  I consider this a very good showing.

A huge thank you to Lindy Camardella, who volunteered to track this topic for ILaaom. Her work has benefited the community. ILaaom can really use volunteers who will own a topic like Lindy has! And thanks to our indefatigable Legislative chair David Miller, for his effective writing.

After the meeting, Tom chatted with an AP reporter, who has mentioned acupuncture in her pieces: http://tinyurl.com/9yr8mbn

tom hurrle