| from: The Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations |
| Advocates for excellence in traditional and modern oriental medicine |
| http://www.acucouncil.org/ca_legislation.htm |
| The following are listed in order of priority, based upon the timing and impact of your support. |
| SB 1705 (Burton) Workers Compensation Disability Evaluation |
| June 26 hearing. SB 1705 will benefit most by calls and faxes placed by Monday afternoon! SB 1705 Support Letter |
| May 16, 2002 - SB 1705 will be heard in the Assembly Insurance Committee on June 26. SB 1705 specifies that acupuncturists must complete supplemental educational standards and pass a regular exam given by the Industrial Medical Council in order to become a Qualified Medical Evaluator, with full privileges and responsibilities in the Workers Compensation system, including performing disability evaluations. Sponsored by CAOMA. |
| AB 1943 (Chu) Acupuncturist Training Program Standards |
| July 1 hearing. Letters and faxes to all members of the Senate Business and Professions Committee are vital early next week! AB 1943 Letter to Senate Committee |
| June 19, 2002 - AB 1943 was amended and will be heard in the Senate Business and Professions Committee on July 1. AB 1943 establishes that curriculum standards for programs in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine must be 3,000 hours in 2004, with intentions for developing 4000 hour programs by 2010, and requires additional continuing education for existing practitioners, to be determined by the Acupuncture Board. Sponsored by CAOMA. |
| SB 573 (Burton) Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture |
| June 25 hearing. The chair of the Health Committee, Helen Thomson, may kill SB 573 in order to stop its insurance mandate. SB 573 Support Letter |
| June 17, 2002 - SB 573 will be heard in the Assembly Health Committee on June 25, after threats to place it on hold in the death bin, along with other insurance "mandate" bills. Senate Bill 573 requires health care insurance plans to offer acupuncture coverage. Sponsored by CAOMA. |
| SB 1750 (Spieir) Ephedra Labeling and Sales Restrictions |
| June 25 hearing. Senator Spieir has not responded to our request for exemption. Call the Health Committee members now, or face losing access to ephedra as you know it! SB 1750 Oppose Letter |
| May 23 - SB 1750 passed the Senate Floor and will be heard in the Assembly Health Committee on June 25. SB 1750 would require labeling and sales restrictions for certain dietary supplements, including ephedra (ma huang). CAOMA has taken an "oppose unless amended" position to allow acupuncturists to continue to prescribe herb formulas in a traditional manner. |
| SB 1951 (Figueroa) Acupuncture Board Changes and Reporting |
| June 25 hearing. SB 1951 has improved, but still remains dysfunctional. Ask the Health Committee Members to support our amendments! SB 1951 Oppose Letter |
| June 18, 2002 - SB 1951 passed the Assembly Business & Professions Committee 9-1, and will be heard in the Assembly Health Committee on June 25. SB 1951 requires a faculty member to replace an acupuncturist on the Acupuncture Board, and will be amended to direct the Little Hoover Commission to review the scope of practice, educational standards, licensing exam, and the school approval process. CAOMA has taken an "oppose unless amended" position on SB 1951. |
| Medi-Cal Optional Acupuncture Benefit |
| In conference committee. Letters to the Governor and to your Legislator are worth the effort to keep acupuncture a covered service in Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal Support Letter |
| May 30, 2002 - The Senate and Assembly restored the acupuncture optional benefit to the Governor's budget proposal. The Senate and Assembly will now convene a conference committee to resolve the differences in their respective budgets. The budget conference committee consists of three Senators and three Assembly Members. CAOMA has provided supporting testimony for acupuncture in Medi-Cal. |
| SB 2019 (Speier) Student Loans |
| June 25 hearing. This bill will have minimal, if any, impact on our profession, as our rate of student loan default is low. SB 1477 Letter of Concern |
| June 18, 2002 - SB 2019 will be heard in the Assembly Committee on Higher Education on June 25. SB 2019 would authorize a licensing board or agency having jurisdiction over a licensee, to cite and fine, and deny a license or license renewal to a licensed health care practitioner who is in default on a US DHHS education loan or service obligation or on a loan made under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. CAOMA and other concerned interests succeeded in getting the bill amended. |
| Thank you for your support of our profession, |
| Brian C. Fennen, L.Ac, OBT |
| Executive Director |