Morganton Road, Fayetteville
Acupuncture for aches and injuries, with the paperwork explained first
Two licensed acupuncturists, minutes from Fort Bragg. Before your first visit we tell you how it can be billed: VA Community Care, the military health plan or paying yourself.
- Monday – Thursday7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Friday7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Saturday9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- SundayClosed
- 1417 Morganton RoadSuite 4, Fayetteville
Closed on federal holidays.
Who you will see
Licensed in North Carolina, with the certifier named
Each acupuncturist's license, with the board that issued it, is listed at the bottom of every page.
North Carolina licenses
Elbert Payne, Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.)
NC Lic. 000000 · North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board
Licensed to practice acupuncture in North Carolina
Aidee Ortega, Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.)
NC Lic. 000000 · North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board
Licensed to practice acupuncture in North Carolina
National credential
Elbert Payne
Diplomate of Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.), NCBAHM, formerly NCCAOM
Aidee Ortega
Diplomate of Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.), NCBAHM, formerly NCCAOM
Languages
English
The whole team
Spanish
Aidee Ortega
What people come in for
Aches that come with the work, the miles and the lifting
A short list of the reasons people book. Your acupuncturist listens first and tells you what they plan before any needle goes in.
Low back and hips
Stiffness after long drives, ruck marches, flights or a week of lifting.
Neck and shoulders
Tight muscles from a desk, a vehicle seat or carrying a pack.
Knees and ankles
Sore joints after running, a sprain or years of hard landings.
Training aches
Soreness that follows a heavy block of training or a new routine.
Old injuries
A shoulder or a knee that still talks to you after an injury has healed.
Headaches and jaw tension
Tight muscles at the base of the skull and along the jaw.
A first visit
About an hour, in plain steps
You talk, you rest on a padded table, and you leave with a plan for the next few visits.
Your acupuncturist asks about your health, your medicines and what you hope for, then explains where the needles will go and why. The needles stay in about 20 to 30 minutes while you rest. Wear loose clothes that roll up past the knee and the elbow.
A talk about your health, your medicines and your week
A look at your tongue and pulse
A rest with the needles in, with check-ins
A plan for the next few visits, and a written estimate if you pay yourself
Paying for a visit
Three routes to a first visit, side by side
Plans differ and they change, so we check yours before you come in and tell you what we find.
| What to know | VA Community Care | The military health plan | Paying yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who starts it | VA Community CareYour VA care team, who decides whether to refer you to a community provider. | The military health planYou can call us. Some plan types ask for a referral first, and we check. | Paying yourselfYou. Call or send a message any time. |
| What we need from you | VA Community CareYour referral and the VA's authorization. We start once it is in place. | The military health planYour plan card and, if your plan asks for one, the referral. | Paying yourselfA time that suits you. |
| Who we bill | VA Community CareThe VA, for the visits it authorizes. | The military health planYour plan, for the visits it covers. | Paying yourselfNo one. You pay at the visit. |
| What you may owe | VA Community CareWhatever your authorization says. Ask your VA care team. | The military health planA copay or deductible, if your plan has one. We check before you come in. | Paying yourselfThe fee in your written estimate. |
| What you get in writing | VA Community CareA plain summary of what the authorization covers. | The military health planA plain summary of what we learned when we checked your benefit. | Paying yourselfA written estimate before your first visit and an itemized receipt after each visit. |
Questions people ask first
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most people feel a brief pinch, a dull ache or a warm, heavy spread at some needles, and some feel almost nothing. The needles are hair-thin. Tell your acupuncturist right away if anything is too much, and they will adjust it or take the needle out.
Are the needles clean?
We use thin, sterile, single-use needles. Each one is opened in front of you and goes into a sharps container after the visit. Your acupuncturist explains the risks before the first needle: soreness, light bruising, feeling light-headed and, rarely, bleeding or infection.
Will the VA pay for my visits?
The VA decides, case by case. Ask your VA care team whether acupuncture is part of your plan and whether a community provider can see you. If it can, the VA authorizes the visits before they begin, and we start once that is in place. The page on VA and military plans lays out the steps.
How many visits will I need?
Your acupuncturist suggests a plan after the first visit and looks at it again as you go. It depends on your goals and how you respond, and it is a suggestion, never a promise. You can change the plan or stop at any time.
What should I wear and eat?
Wear loose clothes that roll up past the knee and the elbow, or bring shorts and a T-shirt. Eat something light a couple of hours before. It is better not to come hungry or very full.
Will I have to stop my medicine?
No. Keep taking everything your prescriber gave you, and tell us all that you take, medicines and supplements included. Acupuncture works alongside your doctor's care, never in place of it.
Book a first visit
Pick a time that fits your schedule
Choose a time in our online scheduler, or call (910) 555-0105 and the front desk will find one with you. We open at 7 a.m. on weekdays.
- Monday – ThursdayToday
- 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- FridayToday
- 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- SaturdayToday
- 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.