Acupuncture supporters rally for Medi-Cal benefits in San Francisco [Video]

Patients who rely on acupuncture, and the medical experts who perform the procedure, held a rally in San Francisco’s Chinatown to advocate for the medical practice. They’re worried the governor’s newest budget proposal will cut them off from the care they need.

For some 3,000 years in China, acupuncture has been practiced as health care, and patients in San Francisco today still rely on medical treatments. 

Currently, Medi-Cal will pay for acupuncture, but the governor’s revised budget plan to account for a shortfall will pull that coverage back. 

“Medi-Cal plans to cut acupuncture benefits after June 15, 2024. This will hurt the AAPI community and many others,” said Lili Qiao, North East Medical Services director of integrative medicine.

The governor’s office referred us to his announcement of the revised budget earlier this month, saying Gov. Gavin Newsom would prefer not to make any cuts: “None of this is work you …