Recently in legal status Category

A physician describes why abbreviated courses in acupuncture pose a serious problem. She suggests that the American Association of Medical Acupuncture reevaluate their training programs and follow the WHO (World Health Organization) recommendation of 1500  hours of training for physicians who wish to practice acupuncture, and suggests that the physicians pass the NCCAOM exams. Excerpts from the article follow. In the original article Dr. Walkey gives a case presentation of sudden blindness that was treated by a trained acupuncturist.

http://www.medicalacupuncturefacts.com/2010/03/24/abbreviated-courses-in-acupuncture-for-physicians-pose-a-serious-problem/

"I am a scientist at heart, and this is the finest science that I have encountered. As a physician who has gone through Western medical training and now training in acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, I assure you that abbreviated courses in acupuncture for physicians pose a serious problem. That problem has to do with efficacy of treatment. Without a comprehensive education in the fundamentals of this science, and without appropriate hours spent in learning complex needling techniques, followed by supervised clinical application of all of this learning, it is not possible to effectively treat the list of diseases which the world now recognizes are amenable to acupuncture intervention.

Acupuncture is not a nice, short topic that can be covered during a seminar lasting for a few weekends. Suffice it to say, that it is not possible to treat the difficult diseases listed above after watching videotapes, reading one textbook, and attending two weekends of lecture with needling practice on a few other course participants.

CONTACT CONGRESS NOW!!!

Send letters to your senators and representative using AAAOMs fast and easy letter-writing tool at http://www.aaaomonline.org/hr646

The AAAOM is issuing a call to action letter writing campaign in support of HR 646. We are at the forefront of a momentous change in U.S. healthcare, and acupuncture and Oriental medicine is an important part of this crucial transition. In supporting and passing HR646, we are creating a firm foundation for our profession to propel from alternative medicine to mainstream, and we need everyone's voice to make it happen!

WHAT IS HR 646 AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

This is a decisive moment for acupuncture and Oriental medicine. HR 646, also known as "The Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2009," amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under part B of the Medicare Program, and to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for coverage of such services under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The passing of this bill will open acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) to many more patients who could benefit from its effectiveness. For practitioners and students, it will open the doors to new patients to serve. It will provide us all with more affordable healthcare choices and create a firm foundation for further integration into U.S. healthcare.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Write a letter to your Member of Congress. If you are a patient, practitioner, student or professional partner in the integrative health fields: Write a letter in support of HR 646! Ask each family member, friend, classmate, colleague, and, most important, each patient to write a letter to their Members of Congress.

CONTACT CONGRESS NOW!!!

To have your letter hand-delivered by AAAOM's lobbyist in Washington, D.C., go to http://www.aaaomonline.org/hr646

Website:	http://www.aaaomonline.org/advocacy
Office:	National Government Affairs Committee
Location:	909 22nd Street, P.O. Box 162340 Sacramento, CA

H.R. 646 would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under part B of the Medicare Program, and to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for coverage of such services under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

"NCCAOM Promotes National Acupuncture Recognition August, 2008: The NCCAOM is working with the CCAOM, AAAOM, FAOMRA, ACAOM, and the NAF to have "acupuncturist" listed as a distinct profession by the US Dept. of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Currently, "acupuncture" is only listed as a treatment modality technique under the professions of nursing and chiropractic. 

Other than this listing for chiropractors and registered nurses, there is no other recognition for acupuncture in the bureau's listings.  This clerical oversight hampers the progress of acupuncture in the US.  Inclusion of "acupuncturist" as a distinct profession will facilitate improvements with insurance reimbursements and possibly the institution of Medicare coverage.  This will also help to create legal protections for the profession regarding the use of medicinal herbs. 

The NIH (National Institutes of Health) will also provide direct funding for grant research once the listing is created.  As it stands today, the NIH cannot provide direct funding due to this oversight.  The work of the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), CCAOM (Council of Colleges for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), AAAOM (American Association for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), FAOMRA (Federation of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Regulatory Agencies), ACAOM  (Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), and the NAF (National Acupuncture Foundation) may also assist with the creation of a federal loan forgiveness program for licensed acupuncturists."

It would be great if acupuncture was more widely covered by health insurance.

The New York State Acupuncture Coalition  addresses the fact that many acupuncturists are trained in and practicing herbal recommendation according to Oriental medicine principles in their practices, yet there has been no regulation of this practice. The coalition seeks to regulate herbal practice within the acupuncture statute not only to ensure protection for practitioners to continue their practice of herbs but, more importantly, to protect the public by setting the standards for safe practice of herbs.

The coalition is conducting a grassroots movement to successfully enact legislative statutory changes to the AOM Licensing Law to more clearly define acupuncture scope of practice, better protect the public, and self regulate our profession.

The coalition is comprised of practitioners, students, alumni associations, professional associations, schools, and patient supporters. This coalition is unique in that, for the first time, it will be proactively seeking to amend legislation in favor the long-term interest and protection of the practice.

As of today, a number of New York schools, including Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Touro College, New York Chiropractic College, New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tri-State College of Acupuncture and members of the faculty of the Swedish Institute Acupuncture Program, have stated their support of the coalition's efforts. Additionally, The Acupuncture Society of New York, High Falls Garden, TCM World Foundation, American Traditional Chinese Medicine Society, and United Alliance of New York State Licensed Acupuncturists are in full support of the coalition's efforts.

You can download the Legislative Guide 2008 from the NYSAC home page. Find an overview of NYSAC's legislative goals here.

There are 21 states that have acupuncture schools or programs.

1. Arizona
2. California
3. Colorado
4. Connecticut
5. Florida
6. Hawaii
7. Illinois
8. Kansas
9. Maryland
10. Massachusetts
11. Minnesota
12. New Jersey
13. New Mexico
14. New York
15. North Carolina
16. Ohio
17. Oregon
18. Pennsylvania
19. Texas
20. Washington
21. Wisconsin

The remaining 29 states have no acupuncture colleges or programs.