| Founded in the late 1970s, the Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations is an umbrella organization of Oriental medicine professional membership organizations advocating for excellence in the education and practice of Oriental Medicine as a primary health care profession. |
| Purpose |
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To serve as an official advocate, representative, and spokesperson for acupuncture and oriental medicine professionals. |
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To support the interests of licensed acupuncture and oriental medicine professionals and membership organizations. |
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To preserve, protect, and advance the clinical practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine as a distinct primary care healing art and profession. |
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To develop, maintain, and promote standards of practice, ethics, education, and peer review related to competency in the clinical practice of acupuncture and oriental medicine. |
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To educate legislators, regulators, public and private policy-makers, and the general public regarding the nature and scope of practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. |
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To sponsor events that advance public awareness, organizational participation, and professional relationships. |
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To serve as a forum for discussion and resolution of issues by leaders of acupuncture and Oriental medicine organizations. |
| Public Policies |
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The CAOMA and it’s member organizations believe that the modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine together form an integrated health care system which should be taught, tested and licensed as a unified whole. |
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The CAOMA and it’s member organizations support the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine as a distinct primary care healing art and profession. |
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The CAOMA and it’s member organizations support the formation of a 4,000 hour clinical [first professional] Doctorate as the entry level to the profession. |
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The CAOMA member organizations has adopted a list of ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases) codes as acceptable diagnoses for use by Licensed Acupuncturists. The list is not meant to define the outer limits of practice, merely to illustrate a common range of conditions widely accepted as diagnosable and/or treatable by Licensed Acupuncturists. |
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The CAOMA member organizations support the use of acupuncture in the Treatment Guidelines for Work-Related Injuries adopted by the California State Industrial Medical Council [Workers Compensation]. |
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The CAOMA member organizations support acupuncture needles for use only in the performance of acupuncture by acupuncturists who are registered, certified or licensed in any State, or by other primary care providers whose scope of practice includes the practice of acupuncture. |
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The CAOMA member organizations support a public relations campaign to convey the fact that Licensed Acupuncturists are the only licensed health care providers in the State of California specifically required to be trained, examined for competency, and licensed to practice acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and that the public should seek guidance and treatment from a Licensed Acupuncturist for acupuncture and Oriental Medicine services. |
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The CAOMA member organizations are opposed to the used of endangered species in traditional Asian herbal medicines, and are in support of the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). |
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The CAOMA member organizations support a public education campaign to convey the fact that Licensed Acupuncturists are the only health care provider in the State of California specifically required to be trained, examined for competency, and licensed to prescribe herbal remedies, and that the public should consult a Licensed Acupuncturist rather than self-treating with herbs. |
| Contact information: |
| Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations |
| 1217 Washington Street, Calistoga, CA 94515 |
| tel: 707-942-9380 fax: 707-942-8242 |
| email: caoma@caoma.org |