This is an update for people with Providence insurance. Starting September 1st, 2025 (some plans will change 01/01/2026), Providence alternative health benefits will be managed by another organization, American Specialty Health, (ASH). There are a few aspects about this change that I think you should know since it will indubitably affect your access to alternative care as it will also impact providers’ ability to provide care and stay in network with your insurance. For example, ASH often requires medical necessity reviews before authorizing alternative healthcare services. In essence this means ASH decides if you are eligible for care and how many visits you are allowed to receive. It also means that providers have to spend administrative time on paperwork. This process can potentially result in a delay in receiving care based on having to wait for their review process to be completed before follow-up appointments can happen. Ultimately, this process can be unsustainable not only for patients seeking care, but also for healthcare providers in terms of the burden it places, jeopardizing our ability to guarantee care for patients. As a result, providers like myself may not be able to maintain network participation unless Providence reverses its decision to partner with ASH. However, policies like these have been successfully challenged in the past when enough members push back. If you are a Providence member and you want to retain coverage for alternative health benefits, we encourage you to contact your employer, insurance administrator and/or Providence insurance directly to complain about this policy. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Hi. It’s February 13th and winter is here. Which is just to say that we are closed today, Thursday, 2/13/2025 and who knows about tomorrow! Now that all appointments are made through the website or by texting 503-539-9180, I worry less about people braving the snow and wind and possible iciness to make it to the clinic but I thought I’d reach out anyhow. Also, the scheduling system has a handy waitlist function so if your appointment got cancelled and there’s nothing available when you hope, add your name to the waitlist!

Thanks and stay safe and warm.

Mia

Happy Spring to all! Just a brief update that starting 04/19/2024 I will not be accepting new Kaiser patients for a 6-month period. This doesn’t affect current patients. If you are a prospective Kaiser patient and need some names, please text or email and I will do my best to help you find a good person.

Jeez, it’s been almost 4 years of masking and it’s time to allow non masking during the community hours. If you feel at all like you are coming down with something, though, please mask. If you’re not sure, please ask! Thanks.

Hi!

I am extremely happy to announce the new location of Montavilla Community Acupuncture. Starting November, 2022 our new location is at 212 SE 79th Ave, Portland, OR, still smack dab in the middle of Montavilla :).

For the next couple of weeks as we adjust to our new location, online scheduling for community acupuncture is put on hold. You can text/call Mia at 503-539-9180 to inquire about availability. Online scheduling for individual appointments is available – just go to the appointments page for the link.

Thank you for being a part of our health-building world. I sincerely look forward to many more years of being of service.

Hi Montavilla and beyond! Thank you for your patience as we navigate our new space at 212 SE 79th Ave, Portland. In the next few weeks we will be setting up community acupuncture scheduling. Private appointments can be scheduled through the website already! If you have any questions, please call Mia at 503-539-9180. We hope you like the new space – it has and continues to be a labor of love and our goal is to create a space of solace for all who walk through our doors.

A note from Julie:

We are excited to announce that Montavilla Community Acupuncture is moving to a new location!

Hi Community! Starting with the Chinese New Year on 2/1/22 we will be changing the community acupuncture rate to $30/session. It’s been a long time since we have raised rates and we appreciate your support and understanding. It is always a pleasure and an honor to be of service.

Hi!

We are getting close to reopening our community acupuncture next month – no date yet, so stay tuned.

Take a look at some of the changes! Including a new air scrubber :).

There will be changes – we will be going to an appointment system with online scheduling through the website and also through your practitioner. We will have fewer people/hour to ensure safety.