PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TO INCLUDE ACUPUNCTURE IN SCOPE OF PRACTICE?

Physical therapists are on a national campaign to include acupuncture in their scope of practice.  In many states this has already become reality.  Currently CA, NV, TN and HI have ruled against including in their scope of practice what PT's refer to as "trigger-point dry needling".  Acupuncturists in Florida are currently fighting a bill in their state legislature and New York state's acupuncture board is actively working to prevent PT's from overturning their current ruling.

Physical therapists are not going through the typical legislative process. They are approaching their own PT boards to generate rulings that trigger point dry needling is in their scope of practice, completely bypassing the acupuncture practice act.  At this stage, the AOMSM is keeping its eyes open, but is unaware of any immediate proceedings in MA.  If anyone has further information, please forward it on to AOMSM.  It may become important to mobilize quickly, should we find ourselves dealing with this issue in Massachusetts.

The AAAOM's statement regarding this issue in 2007 included: " We consider "dry-needling" to fall squarely within the range of acupuncturist practice. Moreover, as licensed acupuncturists typically receive at least 3000 hours of education, the 54 hour course that allows physical therapists to use needles on patients is not only insufficient, but constitutes a public health hazard."

To further educate yourself on this issue, please refer to the following links:

http://www.gemtinfo.com/

http://www.gemtinfo.com/physical-therapy/Dry-Needling-is-accepted-internationally-as-a-tool-of-physical-therapy/page63.html

http://www.gemtinfo.com/physical-therapy/AAOMPT-Officially-Accepts-TDN/subpage27.html

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=30317

http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/26/12/01.html 

http://www.aaaomonline.org/pressroom.asp?pagenumber=48266 

ACAOM DECIDES TO PROCEED ON FPD STANDARDS

The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) announced in February that, based on the input received from a broad cross-section of the AOM community, it will complete work on developing standards for accrediting first professional doctoral (FPD) programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

The Commission received approximately 3000 letters and petition signatures, including from individual practitioners, students and patients as well as state and national AOM organizations.  This input was determined to represent sufficient community support to move forward with the doctoral standards development process.  In taking this action, the Commission made clear that it is not taking any position on whether the FPD should be the educational degree required for professional practice.  Professional licensure is the prerogative of state legislatures and AOM regulatory authorities.

In the next few months, the ACAOM Doctoral Task Force will refine their first draft of doctoral standards.  A second draft will be submitted to the AOM communities of interest for public comment.

PUBLIC OUTPOURING REBUFFS DIETARY SUPPLEMENT SAFETY ACT;

Six weeks ago, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) introduced a bill called "The Dietary Supplement Safety Act" (S. 3002) which, if passed, would have repealed key sections of DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994). Among other things it would have given the FDA full discretion and power to compile a discreet list of supplements allowed to remain on the market while banning all others.  Indeed, in FDA hands, the authority created by these bills was likely to make supplements less safe, less effective and much more costly.

Senator Orrin Hatch, author of the Dietary Supplement and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), contacted McCain with his concerns with S. 3002.  A long-standing champion of your right to choose which vitamins, herbs and supplements are best for you and your family, Senator Hatch offered to work as a team with Senator McCain to amend the bill and eliminate provisions that threaten that right.  After meeting with Senator Hatch, and receiving reportedly hundreds of thousands of letters, emails and telephone calls, McCain and Dorgan have reconsidered their position with regard to bill (S. 3002).  It appears that the bill is no longer an issue. Attached is an update from Biotics Research's FDA Attorney, dated March 07, 2010, which represents a good indication of both Senators McCain and Dorgan intent going forward. It seems likely (S. 510) will now become the bill to monitor in the future. We will continue to keep you updated.

It is clear that the hundreds of thousands of letters to Congress by supporters of 17 concerned organizations, including Citizens for Health, had a significant impact and are, in large part, responsible for this opportunity to address the dangers represented by S. 3002.

To review further information on the bill and the letter Senator Hatch sent to Senator McCain spelling out the new changes, please see the following links:

http://www.citizens.org/

http://www.citizens.org/?page_id=1868

https://secure3.convio.net/aahf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=510

MEMBER SURVEY RESULTS

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Member Survey.  Your answers are important to us and will help us improve our communication with you.  Below is a summary of the key points:

- The most important AOMSM tasks according to respondents are monitoring legislation/protecting acupuncturists' rights and scope of practice, email updates, and representing acupuncturists at COA meetings. 

- Members who showed interest in becoming more involved would like to attend more sponsored seminars, attend annual meetings, and/or assist with legislative work.  Thank you to everyone who left contact information - we will contact you when opportunities/projects arise. 

- Legislative issues, practice/business development, and insurance were equally popular topics for the annual meeting speaker.

JOIN THE AOMSM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

It's the time of year again when we recruit new board members for election at the annual meeting in May.  Having a state professional society is necessary for the security of our profession and it requires that each of us acupuncturists, at some point, step up and take on the responsibility of working on the board for a 2-year term.