December 2019 Newsletter
From the Chair of the American Society of Acupuncturists

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

As 2019 winds to a close, we are grateful to reflect on the progress made this past year.  The American Society of Acupuncturists has grown to 34 state association members representing more than 5000 individual practitioners, and we are working to develop our board and states through strategic planning and fundraising.  We held our first national conference and lobby day which received rave reviews, and we gave voice to the profession with numerous governmental agencies.  Perhaps one of the greatest achievements and gifts for the season, however, was the establishment of the first, full practice act for the State of Michigan!  After years of being in a grey zone of practice with title protection and registration, but no true licensure or independent practice, our colleagues now are fully recognized, healthcare practitioners.  The effort to achieve this was monumental, and a multiyear effort by a group of phenomenally dedicated volunteers.  It is through work like this that the profession grows and matures, and we are eternally grateful to them for this historic achievement. Lastly, ASA became a full member of the American Medical Association (AMA) Health Care Professionals Advisory Committee (HCPAC) this year! This position is critical to our participation as a profession on the national healthcare stage. It allows us to take part in conversations about how our services are coded and billed, and aid in the creation of new codes. 

This coming year will bring many challenges, no doubt, to our profession.  Continuing our efforts towards unification is essential to our survival and success.  We will be seeing changes in the insurance landscape, inclusion in hospital systems, increasing interest in acupuncture by other professional groups, and alterations to our educational and testing infrastructures.  These are all components of growth, and we will need to work together to navigate them optimally.  Please plan to join us at our second national meeting in Washington, D.C. in May, and keep your eyes open for surveys on the ASA and your involvement.  2020 will be a complex year for our country and will present obstacles and opportunities that will demand our commitment to collaboration, if we are to thrive.  Change holds both the potential for great risk and great reward, and together we can optimize our path forward.

Sincerely,

David W. Miller, MD, LAc
Chair, American Society of Acupuncturists
Register today for the
ASA Annual Conference
Washington, DC
Welcome to the ASA Job Openings Board! 
 
We encourage all submissions which promote gainful employment in our profession.

Please do not hesitate to submit job postings, office space rentals or if you know someone who wants to sell their practice, we would be more than happy to add them as well.

Please submit to Christine@asacu.org in MS Word or Pages format (no PDFs) so your submissions can be added to the board.
 
The ASA does reserve the right to edit one’s posting for tact, tenor, and tone, if it may be perceived as potentially inappropriate by others. To ensure the job openings board remains easy to use, please let me know when your submission is filled.

If you have ever submitted a job posting to us, please contact me directly and let me know if you want to maintain the posting or remove it.


Thank you for all you do for our profession.
 
Respectfully,
Christine Cronin
Board Member at Large
Are you interested in mentoring an acupuncture student?
Thanks to all of you who expressed interest in being a mentor and we are looking for more of you!

For those of you who have responded, thank you for your willingness to guide the next generation. I believe I have contacted everyone who has expressed interest in being a mentor to let you know that we are in the process of developing mentee lists and administrative processes to ensure a positive experience for both mentors and mentees. Please let me know if you have not heard from me.

Our ASA Student Committee has found that students would like to find a mentor who they can speak with about more real-world/practice/ASA/life after school situations while being respectful of your time. If anyone desiring to be a mentor could start with just being available by email or phone (whichever is easiest for the mentor), then it could be up to both of you (the mentor and mentee) if you want to meet in person or commit further.

Students are also split between wanting a mentor in their geographical area or practice specialty. Now that we have many meeting platforms to choose from, being able to see someone face to face is easier than ever before and allows for more options across the board.

To begin the process, please contact me at Christine@asacu.org with the following information:

  • Your name;
  • Location;
  • Type of practice you have (private practice/individual treatment/private practice/community- style, work for an employer - another acupuncturist, hospital, VA, DOD, etc.) and;
  • Area of specialty

In addition to the following questions:

  • Are you in education?
  • Do you have a research background?

Additionally, please provide days and times you can meet with your mentee along with any other preferences you would like us to consider as we start the process of pairing mentors with mentees.

Again, for all of you who are willing to be a mentor, thank you for your willingness to guide the next generation.

With gratitude,

Christine Cronin
Board Member at Large









Come check out the official Journal of the American Society of Acupuncturists
JASA Editor-In-Chief Series
Five Studies on Scientific Writing - The Introduction Section of the Scientific Paper (Article 2 of 5)
By Jennifer A. M. Stone, LAc
The ASA will be printing a new article from the series each month.

(Reprinted with permission from The American Acupuncturist, vols. 63-67)

The Introduction Section of the Scientific Paper

Scientific writers are often so passionate about their subject that they tend to overdo the Introduction section. It should be 1–4 paragraphs long or no more than one page. In this section, don’t discuss specific techniques (acupuncture, herbs, cupping). However, if you are using a totally new, not previously used approach to treatment that the readers are probably unaware of, you should present this here. Discuss the benefits, or possible benefits, of the new treatment or method you are using.

One of my mentors told me to think of the structure of the introduction as an upside down triangle. The most general information about the topic should be at the top of the triangle, then make the information more and more focused as you discuss the specific problem you explored (middle of the triangle). Your statement of purpose and the rationale for doing the study should be at the bottom tip of the triangle.

Top of Inverted Triangle:

Clearly identify the subject that you are studying. Use key words, perhaps taken
them from your title. Be careful not to add information that is too general or strays from the specific topic that you are discussing. Summarize what is already known by reviewing several previous studies that have been done on this topic. Be sure to references those studies. Cite randomized controlled trials, meta-analysis and review papers. Stay on track; don’t lose focus of the specific topic you are writing about.

Upper Middle of the Triangle:

State the purpose of the study and your hypothesis regarding what the outcome
might be. Clearly explain what you investigated.

Lower Middle of the Triangle:

Why did you choose to study this topic? Why did you choose this type of
experimental design? Why will this study answer the question you have on the specific topic? How did you approach the problem (the unanswered question)?

Bottom Tip of the Triangle:

Discuss how this study will contribute to the scientific literature by answering
previously unanswered questions relating to the topic.

Become a committee member!
The ASA is always looking for new members
to join our committees!

We currently need members for the Governance Committee.

Click here OR contact Secretary@ASAcu.org
for more information

Be part of the solution!
Web Platform Year End Update
Thanks to all the state webmasters and their respective board members for their commitment to seeing this project through.

Two new sites have just been launched this month:

Washington Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Association
Tennessee Acupuncture Council

Additionally,  Indiana  has wrapped up and will likely launch shortly.

New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Mexico  are 90% completed. Depending on everyone's holiday schedules, we hope to launch these state websites in the next 2 weeks.

Minnesota, North Carolina, Vermont, Oregon and Maryland  are all under construction and will likely be launched sometime in January.

To date, we have launched 8 states and will complete 18 states by early 2020! The 8 states launched include:

Illinois Society of Acupuncturists
New Jersey Association of Acupuncturist and Oriental Medicine
Connecticut Society of Acupuncturists
Wisconsin Society of Acupuncturists
Association for Professional Acupuncture in Pennsylvania
Michigan Society of Acupuncturists
Washington Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Association
Tennessee Acupuncture Council
 

Once these first 18 states have launched, and if states are interested, we can set-up a webinar with D&P to ask questions, work-out any issues and discuss additional needs for Web 2.0.

We will start round 2 for remaining states in 2020. Keep an eye out for info.

Until then, wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season and a splendid New Year!  

Best,
Olivia
Monthly Legislative & Regulatory Report

Our legislative focus this month: S 2914 - Senate Companion Bill to HR 1182 "Acupuncture for Our Heroes Act" and watching S 3067 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to combat the opioid crisis by promoting access to non-opioid treatments in the hospital outpatient setting. Short title: “Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction In the Nation Act” or the “NOPAIN Act."

S 2914 bill text has been released. To read the bill text, click here .

The ASA is excited by this development. It specifically states acupuncture services provided by qualified acupuncturists as quoted from the bill below:

'Qualified acupuncturist’ means, with respect to the furnishing of services in a State, an individual who is licensed or certified in the State in which the services are furnished, or, in the case of services furnished in a State that does not provide for such licensure or certification, meets such criteria (such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary may specify. In specifying such requirements, the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority.

S 3067 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to combat the opioid crisis by promoting access to non-opioid treatments in the hospital outpatient setting. Short title: “Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction In the Nation Act” or the “NOPAIN Act." To read the bill text, click here

Currently, S 3067 does not discuss specific non-opioid treatments but instead defines non-opioid treatment as follows:

A ‘non-opioid treatment’ means—
“(I) a drug or biological product that is indicated to produce analgesia without acting upon the body’s opioid receptors; or
“(II) an implantable, reusable, or disposable medical device cleared or approved by the Administrator for Food and Drugs for the intended use of managing or treating pain,that has demonstrated the ability to replace or reduce opioid consumption in a clinical trial or through clinical data published in a peer-reviewed journal.”

It also contains within the bill that an evaluation of treatment for pain management occur one year after the bill is enacted through Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services looking specifically at the following:
(A) limitations, gaps, barriers to access, or deficits in Medicare coverage or reimbursement for restorative therapies, behavioral approaches, and complementary and integrative health services that are identified in the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force Report and that have demonstrated the ability to replace or reduce opioid consumption; and

(B) recommendations to address the limitations, gaps, barriers to access, or deficits identified under subparagraph (A) to improve Medicare coverage and reimbursement for such therapies, approaches, and services.

We will continue to monitor both these bills through 2020.

Thank you for all you do for the profession.

Respectfully,
Christine Cronin
Board Member at Large
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ASA Sponsor, Treasure of the East, has a new website!  

ASA members can enjoy 20% off your first order with the promo code WELCOMEONLINE20

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ASA Members: State Associations in Action
December 2019 CSOMA News

Greetings from CSOMA,

In recent news:

Michigan  became the 47th state to license acupuncture! (Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Dakota are the only remaining states with no practice act.)

Kimberly Fried won the CSOMA/MIEC “New Membership” $500 raffle prize!  Thanks to everyone who visited the CSOMA booth at Symposium.

The Fall 2019 issue of ASA’s JASA is now available. Get it  here .

We launched a new & improved CSOMA website – download your membership   badge !

Check out the ASA national news  here .

Stay tuned for...

The next issue of the Journal of Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine (JAIM) on acupuncture hospital programs. Missed the 2018 issue? Get it  here .
Limited time offer!

LhasaOMS  is offering a one-time 15% discount to CSOMA members. There are a few exclusions: Online CEUs, Massage Tables & Chairs, KPC Herbs and Mayway Herbals products. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts or deals, including Monthly Specials and Outlet Deals. Use promo code CSOMA19 at checkout. Offer expires January 31, 2020.

Reminders

CSOMA members receive ASA group benefits including: Life, Dental, Disability (Short and Long Term), Business Income Loss. Get them  here. 

Get your CSOMA member discount on malpractice insurance with   MIEC .

We also created a  checklist  so that you get the most out of your CSOMA membership.

From all of us at CSOMA, thank you for being part of the CSOMA community in 2019. Let's make 2020 even better!

Happy Holidays ☃️
The Acupuncture Society of Massachusetts is looking to move the following MA legislative bill out of committee: S 1283 sponsored by Senator Eric Lesser. S 1283 would mandate insurance coverage for acupuncture for pain, PTSD, nausea and opiate addiction under all commercial insurance plans in the Commonwealth. Below is a template letter MA acupuncturists, patients and voters can send:  click here for template letter

Your letters and calls have an impact and make a difference. Please help get this bill out of committee and to a vote on the floor.
MAAOM is now MiSA!

Originally incorporated in 1988 as Michigan Acupuncture Coalition (MAC), and existing since 2004 as the Michigan Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAAOM), as of November 2019 our association is now the Michigan Society of Acupuncturists (MiSA)!
 
Along with the name change comes a completely redesigned website, still found at www.michiganacupuncture.org . New functions, including an improved Find a Practitioner plugin, come courtesy of the ASA’s new rollout of state-association websites.
 
All members should log in to update their accounts. Please contact Jessica Chen at  webmaster@michiganacupuncture.org  with any questions.
 
These changes come at a time when a major legislative effort has come to fruition. With Governor Whitmer’s signing of HB 4710 into law on December 5, 2019, Michigan is now the 47th state to license the practice of acupuncture!
 
The Governor’s signature starts the 15 month countdown to write the rules & regulations, and we anticipate the first applications for LAc in Michigan will start in March, 2021. 
 
If you have any questions about this process, or about the current regulation of acupuncture in Michigan, please contact Henry Buchtel, Legislative Committee Chair at  legislative_affairs@michiganacupuncture.org .
 
Please take a moment to LIKE MiSA’s new FaceBook page!  https://www.facebook.com/MiSAcupuncture/
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How to Get Involved with ASA
State Association Membership:
There are many avenues to being involved with the American Society of Acupuncturists. To enjoy the full benefits of membership, we encourage Licensed Acupuncturists to join their state association that is a member of ASA. You are considered a member of the ASA at no additional charge. State Associations that are currently members of ASA can be found here . State associations who are interested in membership with ASA may contact our Board Secretary LiMing Tseng at Secretary@asacu.org .

Other Ways to Be Involved:

Licensed Practitioners and Acupuncture Students who are unaffiliated with state associations may receive information about the state and federal regulatory and legislative environments, along with newsworthy announcements about the acupuncture industry by becoming an Associate of the ASA. Options for sitting on the Council, serving on Committees, or voting are not included in this option. For more information, please contact ASA Board Member Dr. Christine Cronin, DAOM, L.Ac at Christine@asacu.org . You may also sign up to receive information directly at www.asacu.org.

To Sign Up for Membership & Support Online, Visit Our Website:



American Society of Acupuncturists | 619-847-9613 | Christine@asacu.org | www.ASAcu.org