| A1694 |
This bill revises the law regulating the practice of acupuncture. The bill provides for the licensure of acupuncturists, rather than certification, as is currently the case.
This bill permits consumers to access directly the services of acupuncturists, and eliminates the requirement that acupuncture can only be performed with a referral or diagnosis from a physician. The bill stipulates that an acupuncturist shall advise each patient as to the importance of consulting with a licensed physician regarding the patient's condition.
The definition of acupuncture is also revised to clarify that acupuncture means the practice of Oriental medicine based on traditional Oriental medical theories that can be utilized for the treatment of diseases or disfunctions of the body. Furthermore, the bill specifies that acupuncturists may utilize adjunctive therapies, which include, but are not limited to: oriental dietary therapy; lifestyle and behavioral education; laser stimulation in accordance with relevant federal law; cupping; thermal methods; magnets; gua-sha; and percutaneous and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The bill also authorizes an acupuncturist to perform or prescribe the use of tuina, shiatsu or other forms of oriental massage when engaging in the practice of acupuncture.
The bill further allows the Acupuncture Examining Board to establish certification criteria for the use of herbology in the practice of acupuncture, but "grandfathers" certain persons currently practicing or studying acupuncture from these new certification requirements.
Finally, the bill eliminates tutorial programs, in which an acupuncturist may supervise students in acupuncture. |
