Legal & Policy
Last Updated: January 1, 2026
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 & Alchemy. 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 & Alchemy is a fictitious business name (DBA) registered to Diego García, L.Ac., operating as a sole proprietorship. References to "Gateway Acupuncture & Alchemy," "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 & Alchemy, 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 & Alchemy, 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.
A full standalone privacy policy is available at Privacy Policy. The summary below describes our current data practices.
This website (www.gatewayacu.com) does not currently use cookies, analytics scripts, contact forms, or any server-side tracking. The site contains links to phone, SMS, and email only. No personal information is collected by or transmitted to this website when you browse it. This policy will be updated when analytics or contact features are added.
If you use the phone, text, or email links on this site, your communication is handled directly between you and Diego Garcia, L.Ac. Those communications are governed by your carrier's or email provider's privacy policy, not this website.
This site loads fonts from Google Fonts API. Google's privacy policy governs that request. No other third-party services are currently used.
As a licensed healthcare provider, Gateway Acupuncture & Alchemy maintains a HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices governing protected health information. You will receive this notice at your first visit. Patient health records are not collected through this website.
If you are a California resident with questions about personal information held about you as a patient (not a website visitor), please contact us at info@gatewayacu.com or (619) 289-9336.
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.
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.
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.
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 & Alchemy, 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.
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.
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.
We kindly request at least 24 hours notice for all cancellations or rescheduling. Reach our admin, Dan, by email (info@gatewayacu.com) or text (619) 289-9336, and he will take care of it.
Fees:
Prepaid containers: For prepaid session containers, such as the six-session Alchemy Container, a late cancellation or no-show forfeits that session rather than incurring a separate charge, since the container is paid in advance. One courtesy makeup per container may be offered at our discretion, to be used within the container's window.
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.
Payment: Payment is due at the time of service. We accept cash, credit/debit cards, HSA, and FSA cards.
Fees:
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.
Qi Tending is an optional monthly maintenance membership for established patients who have completed an initial course of care, offered by invitation. It includes one 45-minute maintenance session per calendar month. It is not a substitute for a full acupuncture session; any new or acute concern is treated as a regular session.
Billing & authorization. Membership is $108 per month, charged automatically to the card on file through our payment processor, Square, on a recurring monthly basis until cancelled. By enrolling, you authorize these recurring monthly charges.
Term & cancellation. Membership carries a three-month minimum commitment and then continues month to month. After the minimum, you may cancel with at least 30 days written notice to info@gatewayacu.com; the month in progress is billed and served as usual. Membership fees are non-refundable. Membership may be paused for travel or illness by request.
Your rate. Your monthly membership rate is held for as long as you remain continuously enrolled; the annual pricing review below does not apply to it. We may change membership pricing with at least 60 days written notice.
The monthly session. Your monthly Qi Tending session does not roll over or accrue; an unused session does not carry to another month. These sessions are scheduled like any visit and are subject to the cancellation and no-show policy above; because the month is prepaid, a late cancellation or no-show forfeits that month's session.
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.
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.
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.
If you have any questions about these Terms & Policies or our Privacy Policy, please contact us:
Gateway Acupuncture & Alchemy
3636 5th Ave, Suite 101
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 289-9336
Email: info@gatewayacu.com
Website: www.gatewayacu.com
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
New patients start with a complimentary 10–15 minute consultation call. What to expect on your first visit →