February 23, 2005 - Sacramento, CA - Nine bills exclusively affecting California licensed acupuncturists were introduced in the Legislature.

At least nine bills exclusively affecting licensed acupuncturists have been introduced this past week in Sacramento for the 2005-2006 legislative session . Many other bills that affect acupuncturists and other professions - the budget, Medi-Cal, Workers Compensation, healthcare insurance, etc - have also been introduced. The February 22 deadline has passed for Legislators to introduce bills, but it is inevitable that some other bills will be amended to change their content, and may yet impact acupuncturists.

Bills are introduced by legislators, sent to the Rules Committee, and assigned to a standing committee. This can take up to two weeks. Once assigned to a committee, testimony may be submitted to the committee chair. The committee chair sets a hearing date, and the committee staff prepare a "committee analysis" of the bill, At that time, sponsors, supporters, and opponents are officially documented and listed, and arguments are summarized. A minimum of thirty (30) days must pass between a bill introduction and the hearing.

While CAOMA has worked closely with the legislators and provided drafts for most of these bills, none of them have come back in bill version from the Legislative Counsel's office exactly as submitted. Therefore, CAOMA will be analysing the bills closely and recommending revisions to nearly every one of them.

These bills should open up more dialogue and discussion within the profession and with those outside of our profession. Based upon comments received, and review of content, potential impact, and political viability, CAOMA may elect to take the following positions and the bills: sponsor, support, support if amended, oppose unless amended, or oppose. In any case, our legislative success will depend upon the active participation of acupuncturists and patients throughout California.

So, to everyone who has an opinion....   now is the time to let us hear it.

CAOMA's Recent Activities

CAOMA has represented the profession in Sacramento for nearly twenty years, sponsoring numerous bills to advance our profession.

In the past year:

	•	CAOMA has organized and provided testimony to, and worked closely with, the Division of Workers Compensation and the Commission on Health and Safety in Workers Compensation in our battle to overcome the problems caused by adoption of the restrictive ACOEM treatment guidelines.

	•	CAOMA has developed the first evidence-based Acupuncture Treatment Guidelines to be used as a reference.

	•	CAOMA has organized and provided testimony to the Legislative Joint Committee on Boards, Commission & Consumer Protection in defense of  our profession.

	•	CAOMA has organized and provided testimony to the Little Hoover Commission against the Governor's proposal to eliminate the healing arts professional boards, and in defense of the Acupuncture Board.

	•	CAOMA has organized and provided testimony to the California Dental Board opposing the proposed reduction in hours for Dentist certification in acupuncture from 80 to 24 hours.

	•	CAOMA has been instrumental in the reintroduction of HR 818 -  The Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act - by Congressman Maurice Hinchey, helping to add twenty-seven new co-sponsors to last year's version.

CAOMA will be updating our website as news comes in, so you can find out what is happening on the many issues facing us.

Go to the California Legislation Pages