| For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
| July 22, 2003 - Los Angeles - On May 18, 2003, Robert E. Marcus, J. D., of Marcus & Associates, met with representatives of eight professional acupuncture and Oriental medicine organizations in Los Angeles, and signed formal contracts to represent the Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations (CAOMA) and the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine National Coalition (AOMNC) as the lobbyist for the passage of the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2003 (H. R. 1477). Marcus & Associates intends to work with AOMNC and CAOMA to further expand the number of co-sponsors of the Hinchey Federal Acupuncture Bill to over one hundred in order to open the door for a hearing before the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. |
| In June 2003, Representatives Lane Evans (D - Illinois), Roscoe G. Bartlett (R - Maryland), James P. Moran (D - Virginia) and Robert E. Andrews (D - New |
| Jersey) signed up as co-sponsors of H. R. 1477, bringing the total number of co-sponsors of the bill to thirty-nine, due to the lobbying efforts of Marcus & Associates and the two organizations. This is the largest number of co-sponsors for this bill, which had previously been introduced five times, but languished in committee. |
| According to Mr. Marcus, "Passage of H. R. 1477 represents a wonderful potential for the profession. The passage of this bill will bring national and federal recognition to the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine and enhance the stature of this profession, which thus far, has not been fully accepted and embraced in the healthcare system of our country. Having been a recipient of the many benefits of Oriental medicine for over 20 years, I say to practitioners and patients alike, it is time for our voices and our experiences to be heard in order to move this medicine forward in the United States." |
| Contact Our Lobbyist: |
| Robert E. Marcus, J. D., of Marcus & Associates, is the lobbyist for passage of the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2003 (H. R. 1477) for the Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations (CAOMA) and the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine National Coalition (AOMNC). |
| Mr. Marcus welcomes practitioners and patients to represent acupuncture and Oriental medicine as additional point persons in congressional districts across the country to lobby their representatives to co-sponsor H. R. 1477. Robert Marcus can be contacted directly at Marcus_Associates@yahoo.com. Up-to-date information on the H. R. 1477 lobbying campaign can be found at www.aomnc.com and at www.acucouncil.org. |