Tao’s Clinic

This review is more to inform people of the billing process at Tao’s Clinic rather than the actual acupuncture treatment. I found out about Dr Tao as he is listed as «in network» with BCBS insurance. I was dealing with plantar fasciitis, and Dr Tao said he could help me. I went in for a few treatments and I did have some improvement, but I was working with a physical therapist and doing home therapy as well, so I do not know what actually was helping me get better.
Dr Tao charged me $ 80/​visit, and he said that he would input claims to insurance and said that he would not charge me more if insurance did not cover the entire claim.
When I received the explanation of benefits, the breakdown of the claim caught me by surprise. Here is how it was broken down:
1. Medical Visits
2. Acupuncture Treatment
3. Acupuncture Treatment
4. Physio/​Mech Therapy
I contacted my BCBS about the breakdown and why two of the claims were not covered. The explanation that I received was that Dr Tao is not certified for «Medical Visits» or «Physio Therapy».
I then contacted Dr Tao about the breakdown, and this is what he had to say:
The ‘Medical Visits’ claim was for «check up and analysis your physical conditions and explanations to your conditions». He did take my blood pressure each time and ask me how I was feeling, but I thought this was all part of «Acupuncture Treatment».
As for why there were two billings for ‘Acupuncture Treatment’, he explained that «one session is initial 15 minutes acupuncture treatment and another session is 15 minutes additional acupuncture treatment» ($ 40 claim each, and all in the same visit by the way).
I was unclear what ‘Physio/​Mech Therapy’ was, so when I asked Dr Tao, he explained that this was «I used the heat lamp (TDP Lamp) treatment more than 30 minutes on you».
Dr Tao’s clinic may be beneficial to anyone reading this review. He obviously has helped a number of people here on Unilocal.I just wanted to let people be aware that even though he is in network at some insurance companies, not all of what he will charge you is covered. I should have checked what Dr Tao what the claims would be that he would submit, and then contacted my insurance before I proceeded with treatment.
I should note that Dr Tao did not ask for more payments to cover the 2 claims that were not covered. Regardless though, these two claims went towards the entire bill at BCBS. So according to BCBS I still owed payments, and the amount that was covered was sent to Dr Tao.
Dr Tao did write that «we also submit your claim to Insurance as you request since you believed that insurance will cover for that. You were right that insurance did pay your acupuncture treatment. We will refund portion that you paid once insurance payment done.»

After having a miscarriage and being told that I would not conceive without surgery, I researched and started going to Dr. Tao. Dr. Tao didn’t make any promises, but felt very optimistic that I could and would conceive in spite of what my OBGYN at the time and other doctors told me. He asked me to do everything he asked of me for the next 3 to 6 months and that we would discontinue treatment if there was no improvement. I had been bleeding for 10 weeks already when I came to Dr. Tao for treatment. My bleeding stopped after 2 days of herbs and acupuncture (which is painless and VERY relaxing). Over the course of 3 months, I was treated 1 – 2 times a week with acupuncture and herbs that not only eliminated my bleeding, but improved my energy and sleep. Even more impressive is that I found out that I was pregnant almost a month after Dr. Tao gave my husband and I the okay to start trying to conceive again.
I paid him a visit months later at the end of my last trimester of pregnancy and I was happy that he was SO excited to see me and the belly that was a precious baby growing inside of me. He remembered everything about me as if we had never discontinued treatment and he ended our visit by asking for a picture of the baby when she arrived. Dr. Tao is very knowledgeable about medicine and health and I highly recommend that anyone who is tired of traditional meds and doctors, discouraged, or just want another way to treat an illness or condition to consult him FIRST. He KNOWS what he is doing and has made me and my husband VERY confident in his ability.
I am extremely grateful. He is one of the most knowledgeable, caring and professional doctors that I know.

I have been going to Dr Tao for a little over one week to treat Bells Palsy which I contracted after an ear infection. My progress has been amazing. I went to the Ear Nose and Throat Dr yesterday and he was truly amazed with the improvement in only 10 days, and 4 treatments, time. He said he can’t scientifically prove that acupuncture works, but to keep doing what I’ve been doing because the progress is almost unbelievable. Thank you Dr. Tao.

after having raved reviews here on Unilocal– i am disappointed– first as he was putting needles in me– he lifted up my shirt — without telling me and put a needle between my breasts! i have never had this done– and with no warning– it felt very uncomfortable. then he continued with the needles in other places– he was asking me questions about myself– when finishd he said’ i am not really interested in talking to you– just wanted to distract you’ ?! no bedside manner– did not return

I tried to quit smoking for over 15 years. I smoked for 22 years. I decided it was time to stop trying with regular MD’s (Zyban, the patch, etc) and do something «out of the box» and Dr. Tao’s acupuncture ABSOLUTELY works! I’ve been smoke free for over 7 weeks. If you are addicted to anything, he is the man to go to for help. I see him now for my back pain, which is chronic, but something I do not take meds for. I’ve always wanted to see if it’s getting better or worse, not cover the pain. There are good days and bad days that I’ve had with my back for years. I would never see a chiropractor again in my life, what a horrible thing! I saw many chiropractors and wound up being diagnosed in my 30’s with MS and having «adjustments» was the worse thing I could have been doing for the lesions in my spinal column. Anyway, Dr. Tao ROCKS and is very effective in helping stop smoking!!! And he has awesome business hours!

Dr. Tao is really outstanding. Three years ago he treated me for Sciatic nerve pain in my hip that was keeping me up much of the night. The first treatment got me about 70% improvement. The second treatment 3 days later got me literally pain free. At that time he advised me to come for two more treatments to get maximum relief and longevity (which I did not do.) A week later my wife went to Dr. Tao for tennis elbow and a chronic pain sensitive spot on her knee that had bothered her for 10 years. Her pain spot was cured that first treatment, and her tennis elbow in 4 treatments. We have both been pain free for the following 3 years.
Two weeks ago I began to experience Sciatic nerve pain in my hip again. Back to Dr. Tao. About 60%-70% pain relief after the first treatment and now 100% pain relief after two more treatments. It’s almost like magic.
During today’s treatment, I mentioned that my right shoulder joint had beeen aching… no problem. He used a few more needles in my neck during the treatment and now i have no shoulder pain either.
One of my friends asked me how much the needles «hurt». The fact is that they don’t hurt. They are special, very, very thin needles and you don’t feel them at all. I’m a believer in acupuncture and in Dr. Tao.