Small News/Politics Graphic AB 174 is Signed By Governor
from Brian Fennen, L.Ac., QME President, CAOMA and CAAOM


AB 174 - Assemblymember Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk) - The bill makes it "unprofessional conduct" for individuals licensed as healing arts practitioners, but not licensed as acupuncturists, to perform any acupuncture technique involving the application of a needle to the human body.

As this legislation rolled through the State Capitol, MDs had already gotten the message that they could not just go out, take a few weekend classes, then train nurses to treat patients with acupuncture. Malpractice carriers and nurses would have nothing to do with it. Now it is ever so clear. This law not only makes it illegal for an RN or a PA to practice acupuncture, but it makes it illegal for an MD to direct them to do so.

However, the benefit for MDs is that they will no longer be in violation of the Acupuncture Licensing Act when they practice acupuncture, since this bill gives them an exemption.

The passage of this legislation is the result of a cooperative effort of eight acupuncture associations in California, representing approximately 1,700 members. We've been trying to figure out how to get everyone together so we can qualify as a "Lobbying Coalition," but we would still need two more associations.

While the California Society of Oriental Medicine (CSOM) sponsored the legislation, the Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations (CAOMA), and the California Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CAAOM) have taken leadership roles in communicating to the profession regarding this year's legislatinve efforts. A special thanks goes to Steve English, who lobbied mercilessly in Sacramento with a level of honesty, reasonableness, and diplomacy not easily found in the political realm.

Thanks to everyone for all of your support.

Just one more bill to go this year. That's AB 410, to exempt us from sales tax on prescribed herbs and other products. It should be on the Governor's desk by Sept. 15. If anyone wants to write a last letter this year, that's the one to write. He likes to let these obscure bills sit on his desk for 2-3 weeks to see if anyone is really interested or not.


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