AOMSM LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE UPDATE

The AOMSM Legislative Committee continues to work to advance legislation mandating insurance reimbursement for acupuncture services in Massachusetts. Thanks to your support and that of your patients, the current bill, HD1593, has 19 co-sponsors, many more than we had last year. We have also received an outpouring of financial support for this bill, including generous donations of $500 and $3000 towards this campaign.

After Representative Pignatelli's staff finalizes the language, the next step for the bill is to go before the Joint Finance Committee (JFC). This body makes a determination if the bill may proceed further in the legislative process and appear before the Health Financial Committee (HFC).

The next important step for anyone who lives or works in the district of a representative in the JFC is to contact their representative by telephone or email, educate them, and request their support for the bill. The members of the JFC can be found here: http://www.malegislature.gov/Committees/187/Joint/J11

We are compiling a fact sheet-important facts, figures, and points-for advocates to use when discussing this bill with their representative. Please check the AOMSM website soon for this document. We currently have a thorough and timely paper on our website generously submitted to us by Carol Krieger, RN, BSN, Lic. Ac. that summarizes the impact of insurance coverage and the costs to insurers for acupuncture and other CAM therapies.

Please continue to use the AOMSM Forum to discuss this legislation and other issues before acupuncturists in Massachusetts. Be sure to register with the AOMSM website so your name appears next to your post. Together, we are creating community!

"DRY NEEDLING": WILL IT AFFECT OUR PROFESSION?

Physical therapists have decided that they would like to add acupuncture to their scope of practice. However, since they do not have the requirements of a licensed acupuncturist to legally practice acupuncture, they have changed the name and are calling it Intramuscular Manual Therapy (IMT) or Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN), more commonly known as Dry Needling.

We are aware that KinetaCore, a company which trains physical therapists in TDN/IMT techniques has continued to work with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in order to add acupuncture to their scope of practice. They are promoting a national campaign to lobby state senators in order to pass legislation legalizing what they refer to as Dry Needling. Several states have now determined that Dry Needling is within a physical therapist's scope of practice while California, Nevada, Tennessee, Hawaii, and Florida have made rulings against this practice.
 

PLEASE WELCOME OUR TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS! 

Yili Cao, Lic. Ac., M.A.c., graduated from Shanghai Teachers University, Oberlin College, and the New England School of Acupuncture. She has completed extensive advanced clinical studies at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing as well as at the Taichung Medical College Hospital in Taiwan. She currently maintains a private practice in Waltham, MA.

Kristin Whitfield, Lic. Ac., earned a B.A from Cornell University in 1971, a Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the New England School of Acupuncture in 2002, and did post-graduate Five Element course work with Lonny Jarrett from 2004 to 2006. She currently practices herbal medicine and Chinese, Japanese, and microcurrent/microlight acupuncture in Chatham, MA. Her business, Innerweave Asian Healing, is part of a wellness center where she works synergistically with a chiropractor, a Five Element acupuncturist, two massage therapists, and a nutritionist. After training with Acupuncturists Without Borders, Kristin is now coordinating the creation of a free military stress-relief clinic in the Hyannis area for veterans of all ages and their loved ones.

SPEAKERS WANTED FOR LIFE ALIVE TALKS

AOMSM will be sponsoring a series of talks to promote community and dialogue within our profession, to entice interest in the general population about Oriental Medicine topics, and to have fun! These talks will be held at Life Alive, an urban oasis and organic café located in Central Square, Cambridge. Topics can range from the esoteric (pulse diagnosis relating to the i ching) to straightforward (mindfulness practices to keep you well). Nicole Maniez, our Public Relations Coordinator, is looking for AOMSM members who are charismatic, passionate, and dedicated practitioners to share their knowledge and ideas! Please contact Nicole at info@integrativefamilyhealth.com.

The first Life Alive talk will happen this May! Jeff Miller, Lic. Ac., will share his expertise as we build community and enjoy good food and good company. Life Alive gift certificates will be given away to acupuncturists attending this talk. Dates and gift certificate details will soon be posted on aomsm.org! Stay tuned!

CEU CLASS IN VERMONT OFFERED TO AOMSM MEMBERS AT DISCOUNTED RATE

The Vermont Acupuncture Association is offering a CEU class on April 9-10, 2011 from 9 AM-5 PM. Sharon Weizenbaum, Lic. Ac., Dipl Ac., Dipl Ch.H. will be teaching "Insight and Skill in the Treatment of Modern Diseases with Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment." The class has been approved for 13 PDAs by the NCCAOM. AOMSM members will be able to qualify for the same discount offered to VTAA members. The registration deadline has been extended to March 25th. Lunch will be included. There will also be the option of taking the class online. Please go to the VTAA website to register, http://vtaa.org/calendar-of-events.