Many Rivers Supports Campaign to Promote Affordable Acupuncture

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. - May 2, 2019 - PRLog -- Many Rivers Community Acupuncture is joining an effort to support affordable health care for all through the growth of community acupuncture clinics.  Many Rivers is joining hundreds of other acupuncture clinics in May to support POCA, the People's Organization of Community Acupuncture.

POCA is a multi-stakeholder cooperative.  Its goal is to make affordable acupuncture available to as many people as possible and to support sustainable acupuncture clinics.  POCA acupuncture clinics offer services on a sliding scale so that patients can afford acupuncture, even if they don't have insurance.

Many Rivers will offer $15 acupuncture treatments to POCA members during the week of May 13 - 17 as an incentive for people to become members of the cooperative.

POCA's membership dues fund a vast array of projects including microloans for new community acupuncture clinics in underserved areas, and workshops that train acupuncturists how run community clinics.  In addition, the dues support POCA Tech, which is POCA's own community acupuncture school.

"The biggest problem our clinic will face in the future is the lack of trained community acupuncturists," says Many Rivers owner Carrie Sawtell, L.Ac.  "Many students pay tuition close to $100,000 for a Master's Degree in acupuncture.  Graduates simply cannot afford to work in community acupuncture clinics and pay off those astronomical school loans."

Unlike other acupuncture schools, POCA Tech costs less than $18,000 for the entire three year acupuncture program.  Membership dues from POCA are instrumental in keeping the tuition low at POCA Tech.

"The future of Many Rivers Community Acupuncture depends on having new acupuncturists join us when our current staff retires," says Sawtell. "POCA Tech is training the next generation of community acupuncturists, so that affordable healthcare can continue for years to come.  We are excited to support POCA and POCA Tech through this May membership drive."

POCA members get many benefits with their membership.  POCA members get a free acupuncture treatment on their birthday and three free treatment gift cards to give to friends and family which can be used at any POCA clinic nationwide.  Clinics like Many Rivers also sponsor POCA member specials throughout the year as a thank you to members.  Plus there are online POCA forums; meet-ups, volunteer opportunities, and workshops for members; and other ways to connect to the community.

Many Rivers provides acupuncture on a sliding scale of $20 - $40 per treatment, plus an additional $10 fee for new patients.  Many Rivers has recently moved to Bloomfield and is located in the center of town at 3 Barnard Lane, Suite 205.  Appointments can be scheduled online at http://www.manyriversacupuncture.com or by calling (860) 683-0011.