Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §12501, sub-§13-A is enacted to read:

13-A.__Oriental medicine.__"Oriental medicine" means the distinct system of health care that diagnoses and treats illness, injury, pain or other conditions by controlling and regulating the flow and balance of energy to restore and maintain health.

Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §12513-A is enacted to read:

§12513-A.__Scope of practice

1.__Scope of practice.__The scope of practice of acupuncturists includes the allied techniques and modalities of oriental medicine, both traditional and modern.__In addition to acupuncture, these allied techniques and modalities include diagnostic procedures; electrical and magnetic stimulation; moxibustion and other forms of heat therapy; sound, light and vibrational therapy; cupping techniques and gua sha; point injection; dietary and nutritional therapies; herbal treatments and supplements; lifestyle counseling; certain work on the human body, including tui na; and acupressure.

2.__Rulemaking.__Under its rule-making and standard-setting authority set forth in section 12503, subsection 1, the board may further define the scope of practice of acupuncturists.__ Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

3.__Other health care professionals.__Nothing in this section is intended to limit, interfere with or prevent any other health care professionals from practicing within their defined scopes of practice.

SUMMARY

The bill amends and updates existing law governing acupuncture to set forth a scope of practice. The defined scope of practice is similar to that found in New Hampshire law. The bill also incorporates the definition in New Hampshire of oriental medicine, which informs, underlies and complements the practice of acupuncturists.

In cases where health insurance provides coverage for acupuncture services, delineation of this scope of practice will facilitate the obtaining of payment for accepted acupuncture practices.