Current Legislation for Virginia Acupuncturists

State Legislative Updates:

Use of the title “Acupuncturist”

If you are a doctor of medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatry or chiropractic and are qualified to practice acupuncture, remember that you cannot use the term acupuncturist in your advertising or otherwise represent yourself as an acupuncturist. That title is reserved solely for licensed acupuncturists. See the following section of the Code of Virginia:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+54.1-2956.9

National Legislative Updates:

November 15, 2011

AAAOM is working to designate acupuncture as an Essential Health Benefit (EHB) under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Such designation as an EHB will serve as a catalyst to increase opportunities for all practitioners in mainstream medicine across the nation. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has issued a Consensus Report concerning this to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS will make a determination about the inclusion of acupuncture in EHB by May, 2012. Right now, the AAAOM is organizing a letter support national campaign to let our voices be heard.

The AAAOM needs the active nationwide support of as many practitioners, state organizations, students, schools, and patients as possible. As the health care landscape dramatically changes, the federal recognition and inclusion of acupuncture as an Essential Heath Benefit will serve as a critical first step for increasing patient numbers and therefore employment opportunities for acupuncturists nationwide.

The hope is that acupuncture, and eventually all aspects of Oriental medicine, will be included in national discussions about health care, with possible inclusion into programs such as Tricare. I encourage you to regularly check AAAOM’s website (https://aaaomonline.org) for information about this endeavor and visit our Rally Congress site (http://aaaom.rallycongress.com) to join and participate in our support letter campaign now.

Yours in health,

Jeannie Kang
AAAOM President

We hope that this information is useful.  As always, we do our best to stay informed of any regulations and legislation that will affect our members, and to advocate for our members and the health and well being of the residents of Virginia.

If you have any questions about legislative issues, please contact us at mail@acusova.com.