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Print7 Healthcast: Acupuncture
Loura White, acupuncture client
"I don't like to take drugs unless I really have to. It's a last resort and most of them that I took kind of made me sick, so I thought that this would be a really good thing."
But when the treatments became too expensive, she turned to a more affordable option.
She found the community acupuncture program at Pathways to Wellness in Boston's South End.
Jeff Miller, acupuncturist
"Part of the model is that because it's in a group atmosphere and we're able to see more people an hour, we can reduce the rate that we charge and still be meeting our overhead costs."
The goal of Pathways to Wellness is to provide affordable care.
Kristen Porter, Executive Director of Pathways to Wellness
"Ultimately our mission is to provide accessible service. We're committed to the idea that holistic medicine should not just be a privilege, but it should be a right of people here in this country."
Loura says the group atmosphere not only cuts the cost- it also helps her feel more relaxed.
Loura White, acupuncture client
"It's a magic thing, you don't feel the other people. Sometimes I come in, I'm the only one, and then my treatment is over, I get up and I look around and the room is filled with people, where do they come from? There's an atmosphere that is very very peaceful."
The price for treatments ranges from $20 to $40 per visit. Clients choose how much they want to pay based on their own income. Those who pay full price help to pay for those who can't afford to pay that much.
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