1988 California Legislation
from Brian Fennen, L.Ac., QME President, CAOMA and CAAOM |
1) DOM / OMD 4,000- hour educational standards. This is the position taken by all organizations two years ago, before CAOMA started to break apart. With Medical Doctors, Chiropractors, Naturopaths, Nurses, and Physicians Assistants all wanting a piece of Traditional Oriental Medicine, it behooves us to qualify as equally-trained "Doctors."
2) Put an Acupuncturist on the Industrial Medical Council, which governs Worker's Compensation. 1,500 Osteopaths are represented by two members, while 3,500 Acupuncturists are represented by nobody at all. Even Physical Therapists are represented. Let's get some equal representation here too.
3) Elevate the status of the Acupuncture Committee to an independent "Acupuncture Board," or "Board of Oriental Medicine." After completing their “Sunset Review” process, the AC should be ready to be bumped up from being a Committee on the Medical Board.
4) Guarantee access to acupuncture treatments for work-related injuries in the Labor Codes. Presently, L.Ac.'s are listed as "physicians," but there is no guarantee of acupuncture treatments in the Codes. Oops.
5) Allow L.Ac.'s to perform Disability Evaluations for Workers Compensation. All other “physicians” under WC can perform disability evaluations. Not L.Ac.'s. This would likely require additional training, since nobody could argue that we are currently qualified for this. Specialty board certification and/or the DOM/OMD would fulfill educational requirements.
I am trying to poll the profession to get a good sense of priorities. If you have any recommendations, please feel free to contact me.
Brian Fennen, L.Ac., QME President, CAOMA and CAAOM
Acupuncture.com |