Frequently Asked Questions
Do you perform dry needling? Yes! Dry needling is actually an acupuncture technique (one of many acupuncturists can employ) and I learned it in the 4 years of doctorate level training (which included 3000+ hours) that I had in order to become an acupuncturist. While other professionals may be able to perform dry needling in Maryland, including PTs, Chiropractors, ATs, and possibly more, they do not have the amount of training that acupuncturists have in providing this technique. Unfortunately, when performed by someone without a lot of training (anywhere from only 20-80 hours is required for the above professions), accidents like organ punctures can and have occurred. As an acupuncturist, I advocate for receiving any and all needling that uses acupuncture needles from an acupuncturist. We are the cardiologist of needling, so to speak. Often times, when patients come to see me for pain or a muscle related injury due to sport or overuse, I'm choosing to use various sports and orthopedic acupuncture techniques that do not include dry needling. This is because dry needling, while effective, can be painful and we recommend that someone take a few days off activity after receiving dry needling. The other techniques I offer are more effective, significantly less painful, and you may resume your normal activity that same day as desired. My approach is to assess a complaint using mobility, motor control, and orthopedic testing and then determine the best method of treatment. I discuss that with my patients to get buy-in, ensure understanding, and answer any questions they may have. Then I perform a treatment.
Does Medicare cover acupuncture? Currently, Medicare does cover acupuncture but for low back pain only. Acupuncturists however are not able to bill Medicare for acupuncture. When the bill was passed, it was done so in a way that requires a Medical Doctor to submit the bill, with their credentials, in order to be accepted. Acupuncturists in the US have their own separate and independent licenses and do not need to be supervised by a MD. However, because of the way the bill was written, acupuncturists currently cannot bill Medicare for acupuncture, since they are not MDs. Therefore acupuncturists cannot register as health care providers with Medicare. The American Society of Acupuncturists is working to change this on a legislative level however that will take time. An acupuncturist may be able to bill a secondary Medicare plan as long as (1) they are in network with that company/plan, (2) your plan has acupuncture benefits, and (3) your plan will pay for benefits if Medicare denies the claim. Most secondaries need to see a Medicare denial in order to accept and pay for a claim. This is true for acupuncture. Because acupuncturists cannot bill Medicare, they are able to submit directly to your secondary using a special code. This code tells your secondary that Medicare denied the claim (even though Medicare hasn't seen the claim and didn't actually deny it). Because acupuncturists cannot bill Medicare, we cannot register as a health care provider with Medicare. The code assumes, based on the knowledge that acupuncturists cannot bill Medicare, that the claim will be denied. This has worked for several companies and claims, however beginning in January of 2026, the local Blue Cross Blue Shield offices stopped accepting the code and denied all Medicare secondary related claims for acupuncture. Again, this is something that the acupuncturists in Maryland are working on. Any questions, please reach out. I do offer sliding scale and relief prices for people who need acupuncture but might be on a fixed income due to the current Medicare issue.
What is Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine? Chinese Medicine is an ancient healing tradition that has existed for 5,000 years. A main philosophy of this medicine is that illness, whether it be disease, pain, injury, emotional stress, or something else, stems from a disharmony or imbalance; and in order to regain health and harmony, balance in the body's internal and external environments must be restored. Balance can be restored by treating a whole individual - their body, mind, and spirit - through a variety of methods. One method used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is Acupuncture. In Acupuncture, tiny needles are inserted into Acupuncture points in order to access Qi (chee), the life force, or vital energy flowing through the body. Other modalities your practitioner may use include cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, Tuina (traditional Chinese Medicine massage), Qigong, nutrition, and Chinese herbal medicine. Chinese Medicine has been widely studied for a variety of different health concerns, is safe, and when delivered by a practitioner trained in TCM can be an excellent complementary addition to your current health plan of care.
Why do you not accept insurance for nutrition services? Dr. Laura King has two National Provider Identification (NPI) numbers, one for Acupuncture and Chinese medicine and the other for Nutrition. She is only able to bill insurance for one of her NPIs and she chooses to do so for Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine. She is aware that she may be listed as a Nutrition provider with Aetna, BCBS, and United which she has tried to get changed. We apologize for any inconvenience experienced and are happy to try and help you find a Nutrition provider in your network if you want to use your insurance for nutrition services.
Why do your nutrition services cost more than acupuncture & Chinese Medicine? It simply takes more time to work out nutrition recommendations and develop a nutrition plan. For Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine patients, we are assessing, diagnosing, developing and implementing a plan during their appointment. For Nutrition patients, we are assessing each body system in relation to both their current nutrient intake and nutrition goals, and then taking a step back to look at the whole picture. We are calculating their macro and micro nutrient needs. We are inputting their 3-day food journal into software to assess macro and micro-nutrient intake, evaluating how this is affecting them meeting their goals, and then building a 3-day example plan of eating that aligns with our recommendations. As this takes quite a bit of behind the scenes work, we charge more for these services.
Why are your packages only available for self-pay patients? We are simply not permitted to offer package discounts for patient's who utilize insurance to pay for their appointments
Are you going to limit my intake of certain foods? The short answer is no. We are a fan of moderation, meaning we think all foods can have a place, however perhaps some have a smaller place than others. At Cascade Wellness, we get to know an individual and what will work best for them. For some, following a strict eating plan may work, and for others that is a sure way to fail. For some, taking a slow approach and leaving some trouble foods in, even in small amounts, might be necessary. We do not believe in the 'one size fits all' approach and will work with our patients to find a way that will keep them on their health journey and allow them to succeed. That being said, there are specific conditions where cutting out or eliminating certain foods is required to control symptoms, feel good, and maintain health. In those cases, we will work with our patients to limit those foods and find suitable substitutions.
Do you recommend supplements? Our owner used to work in the nutrition industry, which has given her a unique perspective and knowledge of functional foods and dietary supplements. We therefore are a fan of supplements when they are warranted and we do not believe people should take a supplement just to take it. Our ultimate hope would be for individuals to get the nutrients they need from food, but that is quite difficult to do. So, we will individually recommend supplements when they are needed and we tend to recommend reputable brands with which Laura King has experience, from her past job. In addition, through Fullscript, we can offer supplements to our patients at a 10% discount!
What's your favorite diet? We are not fans of the word "diet", to us it brings a negative connotation. Nor are we a fan of anything that emphasizes one nutrient, or class of food, significantly over others. What we do like is consistency, balance, and a hearty amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in a person's way of eating. In our practice however, we do ensure that our recommendations align with whatever is best for the patient we are seeing, even if that does mean that a single nutrient or class of food needs to be emphasized, which in some diseases it might. If we had to pick one way of eating that we like, it would be Mediterranean.
Is there a difference between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist? Yes! Every Dietitian is also a Nutritionist, but every Nutritionist is not a Dietitian. It comes down to education and training. Dietitians must attend a 4-year college and graduate with a degree in nutrition. Following this we must complete a Dietetic internship which is 1-2 years long, full-time, a continuation of school, and an intensive hands-on training. After which we must take and pass the Dietitian board exam. Because of our training, Dietitians can be employed anywhere, including in hospitals and other in and out-patient health care settings. Dietitians also have an additional continuing education requirement, in addition to maintaining our licenses.
What are your specialties? For nutrition we have supported patients with many different complaints such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, post-stroke, management of tube feeding, weight loss, thyroid disease, cancer, gastrointestinal balancing & health, autoimmune conditions, sports nutrition, and more. For acupuncture, we specialize in sports and orthopedic medicine as well as pain management. In addition we have supported patients with anxiety, stress, chronic fatigue, weight loss/management, gastrointestinal issues, autoimmune conditions, and more.
Do you treat kids? Yes! We see kids for Nutrition, Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine services. There are many ways to support kids with Chinese Medicine without actually using needles.
How long until Acupuncture works, or addresses my chief complaint? This is difficult to answer because it depends on your frequency of treatment and how you are caring for yourself in between treatments. We will be honest with you about how often you might want to get treated and how long it might take for you to experience relief.
How often do I need to get Acupuncture? Acupuncture can have profound effects on the body, mind, and spirit, and treatment frequency depends on your chief complaint and the treatments needed to address this complaint. Certain conditions, like chronic or acute pain for example, may require treatments more often initially and then less frequently as your plan of care progresses.
Does Acupuncture hurt? Acupuncture is the use of tiny needles that are inserted into acupuncture points and meridians on the body. The needles are about the width of a hair. While you may feel the needle go in, acupuncture does not need to hurt. Being treated by a Licensed Acupuncturist is a way to ensure your treatments are safe, pain-free, and effective.
Is Chinese Medicine Safe? Chinese Medicine has been practiced all over the world for more than 3,000 years. It has been the subject of many clinical trails, and has been found to be safe when administered by a trained Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner.