AAMA Newsletter, March 2000

In this issue

AAMA Newsletter
Serving the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
March 2000

MAAC Report

By Marshall H. Sager, DO, Chair

REGIONAL CHAPTER LIAISON Sub-Committee
Bill Rutenberg, MD, Chair

     The Regional Chapter Liaison Subcommittee of the Medical Acupuncture Advisory Committee (MAAC), under the chairmanship of Bill Rutenberg, MD, is pleased to announce a new initiative.
     “Recognizing the importance of a strong ‘mother-child’ relationship, the Academy wants to build strong relationships with the individual chapters. To accomplish this goal, the sub-committee has proposed four CORE areas on which to focus: cooperation, organization, recognition and education,” Dr. Rutenberg said.
     “Utilizing data from the recent Academy member survey, the sub-committee will identify issues most important to the membership,” he added. “We will open an ongoing dialogue between chapter officers and the Academy to develop strategic plans that will strengthen the chapters, enable us to respond quickly and effectively to issues affecting the practice of acupuncture, to achieve respect and recognition as a subspecialty, to increase consumer awareness, to facilitate our CME activities, to recruit new members and to solve new problems as they occur.”
     Chapter presidents are asked to send two or three problematic issues/items with which the Academy could be of help to Dr. Rutenberg (WDRutenber@aol.com or fax 847/634-2200).

TARGET OUTREACH Sub-Committee

Louisiana–As reported by Mark Walker, MD, currently, a physician acupuncturist in Louisiana can practice medical acupuncture unrestricted. However, unless and until he/she completes the non-physician acupuncturist training, passes the NCCAOM exam and is licensed by the Acupuncture Board, he/she cannot participate in insurance reimbursements in Workers Compensation cases and possibly other insurance programs. As previously reported, a change in the law is necessary to accommodate unrestricted physician acupuncture in Louisiana. This undertaking is underway.
Rhode Island–Thanks to Robert O’Neill, MD, Russell Corcoran, MD, AAMA and others, problems in Rhode Island have been favorably resolved. As of Feb. 14, 2000, all physicians in Rhode Island who have completed 300 hours of acupuncture training, including a practicum, are permitted to practice medical acupuncture unrestricted. Interestingly, the physician must explain to his/her patients the difference in training between a physician-acupuncturist and a non-physician acupuncturist.
Mississippi–Via the Academy’s legislative tracking service and through the efforts of Joe Jackson, MD, in Saucier, MS, we have been alerted to and have reviewed proposed House Bill 108. It is unclear, even after several readings by various physicians and lawyers, whether this Bill intends to restrict physician acupuncturist practice rights. AAMA, in conjunction with Dr. Jackson and other interested physicians and physician organizations in Mississippi, will aggressively pursue this proposed legislation and report findings.
Vermont–Jonathan Fenton, DO, said that although the Vermont Secretary of Health does not support the right of a physician to practice medical acupuncture under the scope of his/her medical license, both the MD and DO Boards disagree. Consequently, it is reported, physicians plan to test the legalities of this matter.
Hawaii–To date, only those physicians who trained in the non-physician acupuncturists’ method and who have passed the NCCAOM exam, can practice medical acupuncture in this state. The Hawaii Medical Society is now being consulted in this matter.
Federal House Bill 1890–Proposing that Medicare pay for acupuncture services, this Bill has seen no activity since it was referred to Committee on Commerce, Committee on Government Reform and Committee on Ways and Means on May 20, 1999.

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AAMA Calendar

March 15, 2000 Symposium abstracts due MARF research award papers due
March 18, 2000 Symposium registration cost increases
12th Annual AAMA Symposium
April 25-26, 2000–Exam Review Course
April 27, 2000–Pre-Symposium
April 28–30, 2000–Symposium
May 1, 2000–Proficiency Exam

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