TERMS & POLICIES
Last Updated: January 1, 2026
WEBSITE DISCLAIMER
The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
No Practitioner-Patient Relationship: Using this website does not establish a practitioner-patient relationship with Diego García, L.Ac., doing business as Gateway Acupuncture & Wellness. By accessing this website, you acknowledge that you are seeking information for educational purposes only and are not establishing a practitioner-patient relationship.
Business Structure: Gateway Acupuncture & Wellness is a fictitious business name (DBA) registered to Diego García, L.Ac., operating as a sole proprietorship. References to "Gateway Acupuncture & Wellness," "Gateway," "we," "us," or "our" on this website refer to Diego García, L.Ac., individually.
Limitation of Liability: The website and its content are provided on an "as is" basis. Diego García, L.Ac., doing business as Gateway Acupuncture & Wellness, makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of this website or the information, content, materials, or services included on this website. To the full extent permissible by applicable law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
In no event shall Diego García, L.Ac., doing business as Gateway Acupuncture & Wellness, be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this website, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages.
PRIVACY POLICY
At Gateway Acupuncture & Wellness, we are committed to protecting the privacy of our clients and website visitors. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website (www.gatewayacu.com) or engage with our services.
Information We Collect
We may collect the following information:
Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
Demographic Information: Age, gender, and general health information (for patients only)
Financial Information: Credit or debit card information for billing purposes (for patients only)
Website Usage Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on our site (via cookies and analytics)
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
To schedule appointments and provide acupuncture services
To process payments and billing
To communicate with you about appointments, services, and promotional offers
To improve our website and clinical services
To comply with legal and regulatory requirements
Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
Service Providers: With third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, scheduling appointments, and processing payments (such as Square, Google Analytics, email service providers)
Healthcare Coordination: With other healthcare providers when necessary to provide coordinated care (with your consent)
Legal Requirements: As required by law or to respond to legal process, including compliance with California state regulations
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us:
Remember your preferences
Track website analytics (via Google Analytics)
Enable appointment booking functionality
Manage email newsletter subscriptions
You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our website.
California Residents' Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
Right to Know: You have the right to request information about the personal data we collect, use, and share about you
Right to Delete: You have the right to request deletion of your personal information
Right to Opt-Out: You have the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information (we do not sell personal information)
Right to Non-Discrimination: You have the right not to be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights
To exercise these rights, please contact us at diego@gatewayacu.com or (619) 289-9336.
Security Measures
We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we collect from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no website or Internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee that unauthorized access, hacking, data loss, or other breaches will never occur.
Privacy of Minors
This website and our services are not intended for unsupervised children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 without parental consent.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the updated Privacy Policy on this website with a new "Last Updated" date.
CLINIC POLICIES
Health & COVID-19
Your health and the health of others are our top priority. If you are contagious or experiencing any symptoms of infectious illness (including but not limited to COVID-19, flu, cold, fever, cough, or respiratory symptoms), or if you have been recently exposed to a contagious illness, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance to reschedule your appointment.
Please notify your practitioner prior to your appointment if you are experiencing symptoms of contagious illness. We reserve the right to ask you to reschedule. We may also implement infection control measures such as masks or sanitization protocols as needed.
Parking
Free and paid street parking are generally available around the clinic. The clinic currently offers paid parking ($3/hour) on even numbered spots labeled “Patient Parking” in the back lot accessible via 4th Avenue.
Parking Liability: Diego García, L.Ac., doing business as Gateway Acupuncture & Wellness, is not responsible for theft, damages, towing, tickets, or other issues related to parking. Patients assume all risks associated with parking at or near the clinic location. It is your responsibility to secure and manage your vehicle while parked.
Check-In Procedure
If the building's main door is not open to the public, please call or text (619) 289-9336 upon your arrival. When you arrive gently knock on the door to announce you are here and you will be let in as soon as the room is ready.
Late Arrival Policy
If you arrive late to your appointment, your session may be shortened to remain within your scheduled time frame, which may impact the intended benefits of your treatment. We cannot extend sessions beyond the scheduled time to accommodate late arrivals.
Cancellation & No-Show Policy
We kindly request at least 24 hours notice for all cancellations or rescheduling via email (diego@gatewayacu.com) or text (619) 289-9336).
Fees:
Late Cancellation: Cancellations or reschedules with less than 24 hours notice will incur a $45 fee
No-Show: Absence from a scheduled appointment without notice will result in a charge for the full session fee (Initial: $225 | Follow-up: $180 or cost of adjusted session package)
Appointments running more than 15 minutes late may be considered a no-show and may need to be rescheduled.
Repeated late cancellations or no-shows may result in a requirement to prepay for future appointments or dismissal from the practice.
Financial Policies
Payment: Payment is due at the time of service. We accept cash, credit/debit cards, HSA, and FSA cards.
Fees:
Initial Consultation: $225
Follow-up Treatments: $180
Multi-session packages are available for a lower per session cost. For full details please visit the Investments page.
Credit Card on File: A credit card on file is required for all patients and will be charged for late cancellations, no-shows, or unpaid balances.
Returned Checks: Returned checks will incur a $35 fee, and future payments may be required by cash or card only.
Insurance: We do not bill insurance companies directly. We operate as a cash-pay practice. Upon request, we provide itemized receipts and superbills that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. You are responsible for payment of all services at the time of treatment, regardless of whether your insurance company reimburses you.
Annual Pricing Review
Effective October 1st each year, prices for all services may be subject to increase by a minimum of 5% or more relative to the current Consumer Price Index (CPI). This annual adjustment allows for the continued delivery of high-quality care. Notices of price increases will be posted in the clinic and communicated via email newsletters.
Refund & Return Policy
For the safety of patients and maintenance of quality standards, all sales are final. We do not offer refunds on services or products, including Chinese herbs, supplements, and other purchased items.
If you have purchased a service package and have concerns, please contact us to discuss your options.
CONSENT TO TERMS
By accessing this website and engaging with our services, you agree to be bound by the terms and policies outlined on this page. These terms and policies are in place to protect the clinic, the practitioner, our patients, and the safety and efficacy of our practice.
If you do not agree to these terms and policies, please do not use this website or engage with our services.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions about these Terms & Policies or our Privacy Policy, please contact us:
Gateway Acupuncture & Wellness
Diego García, L.Ac. - License #AC18186
3636 5th Ave, Suite 101
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 289-9336
Email: diego@gatewayacu.com
Website: www.gatewayacu.com
Effective Date: January 1, 2026