Welcome!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to provide care to you. The following page provides special information for new patients and doula clients about the way my practice and the office at 54 Herrick is run. I encourage you to read over the information on this page, as well as the information on this website.
I hope that you will find the following materials helpful. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. I look forward to working with you.
All the best to you!
Sarah
About 54 Herrick since covid
Prior to your treatment you will receive a pre-screening form via email. Please fill out this screening carefully and honestly. If you have an exposure or develop symptoms prior to your appointment please contact me to let me know.
Masks are optional in treatment rooms and required in common areas on appointments scheduled Tuesday through Thursday. If you would like me to wear a mask during you appointment just ask!
All providers and staff at 54 Herrick are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and are updated on boosters.
sarah’s Availability
I am currently available at my office in Southwest Harbor Monday through Thursday from 9am-4pm and via remote consultation on Fridays from 9am-3pm.
I am available to you directly by phone or email for appointment bookings, questions and concerns. Appointments can also be booked online at sarahtewhey.janeapp.com . I am generally available Monday through Friday between 9am and 4pm for patient communication. I do not have a receptionist and do my best to respond to all inquiries within 72 hours. Emails or voicemails left between Thursday afternoon and Sunday evening may not be responded to until Monday unless it is an emergency.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT AVAILABILITY: I specialize in care for people during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period and I attend births roughly once a month. Because of the unpredictable nature of birth it can be impossible for me to know exactly when I might be called to a birth and for how long I might need to be there. What this means is that I sometimes have to cancel appointments on fairly short notice – sometimes within a few hours of your treatment. I do my best to reschedule appointments within several days, but this is not always possible. If you feel that this arrangement is not something that will work for you please let me know and I will be happy to help you find a provider who will better meet your needs.
Cancellation Policy
Timely cancellations are appreciated, but I completely understand that they are not always possible. You will never be charged for canceling your appointment with 24 hours notice. Appointments cancelled with under 24 hours notice due to unfavorable driving conditions or unexpected illness/family emergencies will never incur a charge. Life happens! Forgotten appointments and no-shows will be billed to you at my regular rate.
Things You Can Do to Make Your acupuncture Treatments More Effective
• Arrive for your treatment feeling nourished. Treatments are most effective if you arrive not too hungry, but not too full. Typically it is a good idea to have a snack 20 minutes prior to receiving acupuncture so that you won’t feel hungry during your treatment.
• Allow for rest after treatment, if possible. This is difficult for most individuals, but you may receive increased benefits from your treatment if you can allow yourself at least one hour to rest and relax (lie down, take a walk, sit by the ocean, etc) after your appointment.
• Follow herbal, lifestyle and dietary recommendations to see if they create improvement. If you are offered and accept an herbal formula, dietary suggestions or recommendations on lifestyle changes try and follow them to see if they help. I take a multi-faceted approach to healthcare and in many cases acupuncture on its own may not be enough to create meaningful and lasting change.
Acupuncture and Insurance
If you have a good idea of what your insurance company will and will not cover you’ll be well informed about your policy and will know what to expect from your insurance company. It is important to ask your insurance company if they cover acupuncture, what your deductible is, how many treatments they will cover in a year, what percentage they will cover, what types of diagnosis codes they cover and what your copayment will be.
I am currently an in-network provider for United, Cigna, Harvard Pilgrim, Ultra Benefits, Meritian Health, Aetna, Community Health Options and Anthem BCBS. Not all plans these companies offer cover acupuncture, so it is important to speak with your insurance company directly prior to beginning treatment. In general, individuals who are employed by the UMaine system, College of the Atlantic, MDI Hospital, Jackson Labs, Acadia National Park, in some cases AOS91 and those who are employed federally or by town offices have plans that may include some level of acupuncture coverage. Acupuncture coverage is becoming more commonplace and it is worth a call to your insurance company to ask!
I am happy to send a claim form to your insurance company. Just give me your insurance information as part of your initial paperwork.
If your claim is denied, I will give you an itemized bill that you can send in yourself. In order to keep your costs down, I do not have an office staff and I am not able to spend time determining your coverage or investigating denials. You will need to contact your carrier to find out the specifics of your policy and follow up with your insurance company if your claim is denied.
About Medicaid and Medicare
At this time, Medicaid and MaineCare do not provide any coverage for acupuncture. Medicare will now cover acupuncture exclusively for chronic low back pain, but most acupuncturists are not allowed to bill for treatment.
About Physician Referrals
If your insurance company requires you to have a referral, be sure to obtain it and take it with you to your acupuncture appointment. It's also a good idea to keep a copy for your own records. Sarah is more than happy to work with your primary care physician and answer any questions or concerns they may have.
Acupuncture and Tax Deduction
If you are paying out of pocket for your treatments, acupuncture treatments can be deducted on your federal tax return as a personal medical expense.