The VHA’s Shift Toward Whole‑Health: Expanding Access to Acupuncture

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At a time when scientific evidence for acupuncture is rapidly expanding—and the demand for integrative, whole‑person care is stronger than ever—the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has taken a major step forward by broadening access to acupuncture services for veterans. This shift not only increases treatment options for millions of veterans but also creates an unprecedented opportunity to study how acupuncture is used and how effective it can be within the largest healthcare system in the United States.

Within the VHA, acupuncture is supported through the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation, guided by the Integrative Health Coordinating Center. Together, these programs are working to shift the VHA’s model from traditional “sick care” to a truly holistic approach—one that prioritizes prevention, wellness, and whole‑health healing.

Acupuncture is one of the services offered at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Whole Health system and the full cost of acupuncture is covered in the Veterans Choice program. More than 185,000 acupuncture treatments were provided in a single fiscal year at Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) centers.55 Acupuncture is also offered as a component of shared medical visits in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) across the country, improving access to care for underserved communities in which people might not otherwise be able to afford the typical out-of-pocket expenses of acupuncture.

Click here for more information about the VA;s Whole Health system: Whole Health Home