1975 - SB 86 (Moscone). The first law that allowed non-MD acupuncturists to practice in California. The Acupuncture Advisory Committee was formed to regulate the practice of acupuncture under the Allied Health Division of the Medical Board of California (known then as the Board of Medical Quality Assurance)
1978 - AB 1392 (Torres). Eliminated the "prior diagnosis or referral" by a medical doctor, dentist, podiatrist or chiropractor for an acupuncturist to practice.
1978 - AB 2424 (Keysor). Authorized MediCal payments for acupuncture.
1980 - AB 3040 (Knox). Expanded acupuncturists' scope of practice to include electroacupuncture, Oriental massage, moxibustion and authorized the prescribing of herbs for nutritional purposes by the practitioner. The bill changed the name of the "Acupuncture Advisory Committee" to the "Acupuncture Examining Committee" and gave the committee more authority.
1984 - SB 2179 (Torres and Rosenthal). First insurance bill passed and signed by the Governor. Requires health care service plans and non-profit hospital service plans, that are not health maintenance organizations (HMO's) or self-insured plans (such as ERISA plans) to offer acupuncture coverage.
1987 - SB 840 (Torres). Included acupuncturists as "Physicians" in the Workers' Compensation System for purposes of treating injured workers. This bill went into effect in 1988 with a 4 year "Sunset" Clause.
1987 SB 1544 (Marks). Changed the Acupuncture Certification Act to the Acupuncture Licensure Act, meaning that acupuncturists are now "licensed" rather than "certified."
1992 AB 400 (Margolin). Extended the inclusion of acupuncturists in Workers' Compensation until December 1996 to allow time for a thorough review of L.Ac's participation in the system.
1994 SB 1279 (Torres). Enables acupuncture professional associations to provide peer review for their members and to form corporations with medical doctors and other health providers.
On March 28, 1996, acupuncture needles were reclassified by the Food and Drug Administration from, "Class 2, experimental" devices to "Class 1, Approved". Acupuncture needles are now considered general medical instruments, similar to scalpels or forceps. There is no restriction as to which conditions may be treated using an acupuncture needle. Acupuncture needles are pre-sterilized for single use, then disposed in compliance with OSHA requirements.
Because California licensed acupuncturists now receive around 3,000 hours of training, pass a rigorous State licensing exam and are required by law to use proper sterilization techniques, there is an excellent record of safety among Licensed Acupuncturists. Furthermore, the AcuNet case management process is designed to screen out cases which require referral to a medical specialist. Additionally, AcuNet Providers are required to use only those herbal products which meet or exceed all State and Federal guidelines in their practice.
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