Inger’s Blog

Great News!  The AAAOM is going to the National Federation of Women Legislator’s (NFWL) conference September 3-6, 2009.  From the AAAOM website: “Women legislators hold some of the most influential seats in healthcare reform. The majority of them tend to support the inclusion of acupuncture in American mainstream medicine. This year their conference will focus on health care. We will be there, AND have we will have their ear!

Our profession will be highlighted in the following ways:

Two of AAAOM’s most dynamic speakers—Michael Taromina, Esq. and Claudette Baker, LAc will be giving keynote addresses.
Thirty acupuncturists will be on hand to give treatments, speak with legislators one-on-one, and generally educate them about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.
The NFWL will consider passing a resolution at the conference that will endorse recognizing acupuncture in all 50 states and accepting acupuncture in ALL government insurance plans. A resolution by this group has tremendous influence in the Legislature.  State Senators, Governors, Senators, and House Representatives will be there.”

Here is detailed information about the HR 646 Bill Text: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h646/text.

CONTACT CONGRESS NOW!!!

Send letters to your senators and representative using AAAOMs fast and easy letter-writing tool at http://www.aaaomonline.org/hr646

The AAAOM is issuing a call to action letter writing campaign in support of HR 646. We are at the forefront of a momentous change in U.S. healthcare, and acupuncture and Oriental medicine is an important part of this crucial transition. In supporting and passing HR646, we are creating a firm foundation for our profession to propel from alternative medicine to mainstream, and we need everyone’s voice to make it happen!

WHAT IS HR 646 AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

This is a decisive moment for acupuncture and Oriental medicine. HR 646, also known as “The Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2009,” amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under part B of the Medicare Program, and to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for coverage of such services under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The passing of this bill will open acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) to many more patients who could benefit from its effectiveness. For practitioners and students, it will open the doors to new patients to serve. It will provide us all with more affordable healthcare choices and create a firm foundation for further integration into U.S. healthcare.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Write a letter to your Member of Congress. If you are a patient, practitioner, student or professional partner in the integrative health fields: Write a letter in support of HR 646! Ask each family member, friend, classmate, colleague, and, most important, each patient to write a letter to their Members of Congress.

CONTACT CONGRESS NOW!!!

To have your letter hand-delivered by AAAOM’s lobbyist in Washington, D.C., go to http://www.aaaomonline.org/hr646

According to an article published in the May 11, 2009, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, 60 percent of patients receiving any type of acupuncture had “clinically meaningful improvement in their level of functioning” after eight weeks of treatment, compared with 39 percent of those receiving non-acupuncture care. The trials used 638 back pain sufferers; the patients were treated at intervals of eight weeks, six months, and a year. Two types of acupuncture were used: regular acupuncture and “fake” acupuncture, where toothpicks were placed in guide tubes and then pricked the skin. (The toothpicks did not actually penetrate the skin directly.)  Interestingly, this simulated acupuncture involving needle pricks also got results. Read more about these interesting findings here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6269247.ece

U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) formally invited two acupuncturists from Laurel, Maryland, to testify before the Senate Committee on Heath, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) to share their recommendations for policy changes that will help put the American health care system on the path to wellness.

Here’s a link to the full article:

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=31932

—Inger