August 10, 2005 - Washington, DC - Lobbyist Robert Marcus pleas for help in the passage of HR 818.

The Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2005 - H.R. 818

By Robert E. Marcus, J.D.

Lobbyist for CAOMA for the passage of H.R. 818

Before I began, in November 1999, to actively lobby for the passage of Rep. Hinchey's Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act, CAOMA was itself, actively and personally lobbying U. S. Representatives in California for passage of this bill, which resulted in a number of early co-sponsorships of Rep. Hinchey's bill.  

My first meeting with the CAOMA Board occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 6, 2000, when I presented to CAOMA my first draft of my proposal to pass the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act.

CAOMA Board members, including Drs. Ta Fang Chen, Brian Fennen, and Charlis Tsai (and, many others), had met with members of the California congressional delegation, and successfully lobbied them to co-sponsor Rep. Hinchey's bill.

CAOMA's consistent and steadfast support of the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act, currently spearheaded by Michelle Lau and Brian Fennen, has been a significant force in the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession towards the increasing success of Rep. Hinchey's bill in the U. S. Congress.

For over two years, I have represented CAOMA as its federal lobbyist to pass Rep. Hinchey's bill.  In 2004, I worked towards the passage of H. R. 1477 on CAOMA's behalf in Washington, D. C.

Rep. Hinchey's current bill, H. R. 818, would reimburse licensed acupuncturists under Medicare Part B and under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, (his first Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act was introduced in 1993).  Rep. Hinchey's previous bill, H. R. 1477, ended with 63 co-sponsors in the last Congress.  

Due to the need to renew co-sponsorships of bills in the Congress, until they become law, your support for CAOMA's efforts regarding the passage of the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act is needed to help move H. R. 818, which presently has 44 co-sponsors, through the new Congress.

Grassroots advocacy by you and your patients and supporters of acupuncture is critical to increase the number of co-sponsors that will ultimately lead to the bill's passage.  Please ask your U. S. Representative to co-sponsor Rep. Hinchey's bill, which will bring acupuncture and Oriental medicine into the mainstream of American healthcare.  Please let me know that you have done so, at Marcus_Associates@yahoo.com, and at (276) 492-8098, so I can follow up with your representative's Health Aide in Washington, D. C.