By Adrianna Locke, MAc, L.Ac
We have unfortunate news that as of September 1st, 2025, Zócalo Wellness will no longer be able to bill most Providence insurance plans. We did not make this decision lightly. Providence has decided to process the alternative medicine benefit of most of its plans through a third party called American Specialty Health, or ASH. This change will lower payments to your providers while increasing paperwork burdens to the point where we cannot afford to continue to take these plans and still run a thriving clinic.
Patient complaints have turned around these decisions in the past and we encourage you to complain directly to Providence if you buy your plan from the Marketplace, or to your HR department if you get your insurance through an employer.
The following Providence plans will NOT be affected because they are protected by unions, are self-funded, or are OHP plans. It is still a good idea to make your opinion known to your employer or union to prevent this change from spreading to these plans as well.
Intel
PEBB
ASO
School district 1
Clackamas County
PGE
Providence Health Assurance (OHP)
Unfortunately, this kind of change is not new. This is part of a long trend that has meant that at this point Zócalo Wellness is in-network with very few private plans. We aim to create access for patients while also creating living wage jobs for our diverse team of practitioners. As insurers cut costs this has made it harder and harder to do both at the same time.
What You Can Do
- Complain to Providence, call your HR, and switch your plan if you can. Find the phone number for your plan on the back of your insurance card. We are still in network with PacificSource and Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield. Here is an sample script to call or send in a complaint:
Dear Providence,
I understand that you are switching to using ASH’s fee schedule and protocols for acupuncture benefits. If you do this I will no longer be able to see my acupuncture provider. This will severely limit my ability to use my benefits, which are protected by Oregon law. I will be forced to consider cancelling my plan or encouraging my employer to cancel our group plan and look for another company that truly cares about providing care to their members. This change will have serious implications for my care and I urge you not to do this.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
- Complain to your state representative. Acupuncture benefits are protected by law in Oregon. You are entitled to a minimum of 12 visits. If you are not able to access these benefits then that is something state lawmakers need to address.
- Advocate for Universal Healthcare in Oregon! This trend of cutting care to cut costs will not stop as long as we have a for-profit medical system. Oregon is poised to be the first state to adopt a Universal Health Plan to cover all people through public insurance. Imagine high quality healthcare with no out of pocket costs! It is possible. Check out Health Care for All Oregon for more information.