December 2024 Newsletter

From the Chair | The Latest | ASA Joint Developments | ASA Sponsors | Ads | State Associations Updates

From the Chair

Dear Colleagues,

As 2024 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting with pride on a year filled with growth, progress, and impactful achievements for the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA). This has been a fruitful year for our dedicated 100% volunteer staff.  Together, we have advanced our mission to elevate the acupuncture profession and in doing so, strengthened the community we serve.

Expanding Leadership and Governance
In 2024, the ASA set a goal to welcome four new members to our Board of Directors (BOD) by year-end.  A larger BOD provides diverse perspectives, enhances strategic decision-making, and enables us to distribute responsibilities more effectively. This expansion will empower the ASA to tackle ambitious initiatives, foster innovation, and ensure sustained growth, ultimately benefiting our members and the broader acupuncture community.  We are happy to share the progress we’ve made. Ross McCallum restored the BOD to five members in April and transitioned into the role of Secretary in November. Charis Wolf rejoined the Board in July, while Jeffrey Bloom and Kelly Hora were officially elected in November. With additional candidates in the interview process, we are confident that we will meet this goal shortly.  

Legislative Advocacy and Professional Education
This year seventeen co-sponsors joined HR 3133, the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act, signaling growing support for integrating acupuncture into senior care. Additionally, our 4th annual ASA Conference in Washington, D.C., was a resounding success, bringing together practitioners, educators, and advocates from across the country for inspiring discussions and skill-building sessions. The energy and connections fostered at the conference culminated in the impactful Acupuncture for Our Public Servants event on Capitol Hill, where we provided over 110 demonstrations, significantly raising awareness of acupuncture’s benefits among policymakers and their staff.

Strengthening Professional Collaboration
2024 marked the introduction of the Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (AHM) Coalition to the profession. The AHM Coalition showcased the value of advocacy during a presentation at the Academic Consortium’s International Congress. Additionally, the ASA was honored to be accepted into the NCCIH Coalition for Whole Person Health, granting us a vital seat at the table as healthcare evolves in the United States.

Educational Outreach
This year, the ASA produced several webinars and town halls to address critical topics for the profession. Highlights included:

• Medicare Webinar (February)
• AHM Coalition Town Hall (May)
• Legal Webinar on Practice Impacts (September)
• AHM Day Webinar (October)
• Medicare and Medicaid’s Role in the Acupuncture Profession (November)

For those unable to attend, recordings, notes, and Q&A documents are available on the ASA website.

Welcoming New Member Associations
In 2024, we welcomed four state associations to the ASA:

• Maryland Acupuncture Society (April)
• Georgia Association of Acupuncture and Asian Medicine (July)
• Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (July)
• American Association of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture (California, November)

The ASA now comprises 37 voting member associations and 11 non-voting associations, reflecting the growing strength and unity of our community.

Building Sustainable Infrastructure
One of our most critical objectives is creating an evergreen revenue generator that will enable the ASA to move from a fully volunteer-run organization to one with dedicated staff, including an Executive Director. Over the past year, multiple teams have invested significant time and energy into developing programs designed not only to support this transition but also to help acupuncturists remain competitive in the evolving medical landscape. While these plans are still in development, we are excited to unveil them to you in 2025.  Stay tuned!

Looking Ahead
As we celebrate these milestones, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who dedicated their time, energy, and effort to the ASA’s 2024 projects. Whether through national or state leadership, committee work, advocacy, or education, this group is one of the most dedicated I have had the honor and pleasure to work alongside.   Please read each of the committee chair’s and state association updates to celebrate all that they are doing on behalf of the profession.  Together, we are truly forging a brighter future for acupuncture—one that honors our rich traditions while advancing our profession’s vital role in modern healthcare.

If you’re not already part of the greater ASA team, I hope you consider being part of our continued journey in 2025 by joining your state association, an ASA committee, or even considering a BOD position! Until then…

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year!

Best,
Olivia

<Register now> 

The Latest – What the ASA Committees are doing right now

State Advocacy Committee – Chair, Jennifer Broadwell
The Advocacy Committee (AC) worked on numerous state and federal issues facing our profession,  and focused on assessing and promoting our committee’s key offerings.

2024 ASA Conference – Presented ‘Professional Advocacy’ and a held a Roundtable Discussion on ‘Planning Your State Advocacy Efforts’ at the conference.
ASA Member Toolkit – Continued to create original documents to support our members’ state and federal advocacy efforts. This library of resources will be available to members on our website in 2025.
BillTrack 50 – Held annual trainings for our member associations to provide access and guidance for using this important resource that tracks state and federal  legislation.

Working in partnership with the NCCAOM we continued to provide education for our profession, stakeholders and legislators on H.R. 3133, the Acupuncture For Our Seniors Act. H.R. 3133 is currently sponsored by Rep Judy Chu, with 17 cosponsors. Preparations are underway to reintroduce a bill to the 119th Congress in 2025 if not passed in this session. Please continue to read our newsletter and check our website and social media for announcements and updates.

ASA & NCCAOM Town Halls – Co hosted Town Halls to engage and educate our profession to consider our collective future and provide updates on H.R. 3133. You can watch them here.
Strategic meetings with Republican Representatives –  Molly Ford scheduled and attended many meetings throughout the year with targeted republican representatives. You can register here if you live or work in a district of a republican representative and you want to attend a meeting.
Organizational Letter of Support – We need to show the broad support of our stakeholders to amplify our message with legislators. This letter of support includes many hospitals, national organizations that represent patients and other providers that are negatively impacted by our current status as unrecognized providers of Medicare. Please contact us if you have contacts with an organization that would like to be added to show their support for H.R. 3133.

Our work could not have been done without the dedicated support of the current AC members: Joe Pandolfo (CT), Ginna Browning (NC) and Chaiya Sherman (WA). I would also like to recognize all of the previous AC members from the last 5 years who have given their time, energy and effort to creating and supporting the ASA AC: Michelle Wright, Jason Sargis, Amy Mager and Nell Smircina.  Thank you for your contributions!

2025 is sure to be an active year for both state and federal advocacy efforts. The ASA has decided to separate state and federal advocacy into two separate committees going forward to allow us to increase our focus, reach and activities in both areas. We are looking for new members in both committees, please apply on our website if you are interested in joining!

Federal Advocacy Committee – Chair, Amy Mager
There are so many exciting things going on in Advocacy for the ASA and our members!

Please join us at the ASA and NCCAOM Medicare Update Webinar: Remember you MUST register to receive your PDA points! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at gro.u1736921887casA@1736921887ycaco1736921887vdA1736921887.

Conference Committee – Chair, LiMing Tseng
The ASA held our ASA 2024 Annual Conference at the Crystal Gateway Marriott on April 6-7, 2024 with the Acupuncture for our Public Servants event on Capitol Hill on April 8, 2024. The acupuncture community came together as we reconnected with friends and meeting new friends, all while learning about integrative medicine, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other subjects that matter to our profession.  Enjoy revisiting moments through photos of the ASA 2024 Conference and the Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill featuring Acupuncture for our Public Servants during the Solar Eclipse!

Our deepest gratitude to our ASA Industry Sponsors and our School Sponsors. Thank you all who participated and a great thank you to the ASA Conference Committee!

Please join us for ASA’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and the ASA 2025 Annual In-Person Only Conference on April 26-27, 2025 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, VA (near Washington, DC). On April 28th, we will have our Acupuncture for our Public Servants led by Amy Mager. We hope to see you as our community comes together again to celebrate and strengthen our profession!

Governance Committee – Chair,  David Bock
The Governance Committee is investigating various topics that will be used for a pre conference educational video in conjunction with the 2025 ASA annual conference. Possible topics include understanding bylaws and other legal structures that are used in governing the state associations. Any and all requests for specific topics will be appreciated and considered. Please send requests/suggestions to gro.u1736921887casa@1736921887ecnan1736921887revog1736921887 Thank you

Herbal Medicine Committee- Chair, Linda Robinson-Hidas
The Herbal Medicine committee meets monthly and is currently working on a Best Practices Document. This document  will provide guidelines both for credentialing Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (TCHM) practitioners by hospitals as well as provide Best Practices for individual practitioners in private practice. We hope to have the first draft of this done by early 2025.

The FDA and the FTC state that you may not claim that herbs diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease or symptoms. To claim such, in words or implied, even by pictures causes the product to be viewed as a drug and  needs to be supported by appropriately powered studies.  Warning letters about these issues are still being sent out.  This was the topic of a recorded webinar that was part of the ASA pre-conference 2024 webinars. For more information see: Health Products Compliance Guidance | Federal Trade Commission 

The Herbal Medicine Committee was represented in person at the Wildlife Protection in Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference in New York on Sunday April 14, 2014.  The topics focused on the use of Chinese Herbal Medicine without the use of endangered wildlife products.

The coalition states We envision a world in which Chinese Medicine is a sustainable, green, non-wildlife, and environmentally friendly medicine for the health of human beings and the earth.

For your reference the ASA’s updated policy on endangered species is;

• ASA promotes the use of only ethically and humanely treated, legally traded, non-endangered animal and plant products in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine.
• The ASA endorses the American Herbal Product Association (AHPA) policy promoting suppliers that ethically source materials according to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
• ASA supports a ban on the use of endangered species for Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine and looks to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for leadership in this issue.

Please feel free to use the beautiful About Herbs documents in your practice. https://www.asacu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/About-Herbal-Medicine-Handout.pdf

https://www.asacu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/About-Herbal-Medicine-Professional-Handout-Final.pdf

The Herbal Medicine Committee would like to encourage interested individuals to submit an application with the nominating committee. We are looking to expand the committee to allow some very long term members to step down.

Insurance Committee – Chair, Mori West
We are still at work – still attempting to get confirmation of VA codes to use for cupping, as we feel 97016 is not the appropriate code for moving cups, and really isn’t appropriate for static.  An insurance carrier can designate how they would like to use CPT codes, and while not common, it is the case here.  We are also working on a workaround to get patient’s reimbursed for Medicare covered services.  We, as always are monitoring the CPT editorial panel meetings.  The agenda comes out Friday, Dec 6.  We check the agenda for code applications/updates and changes that may affect the acupuncture community and we then will attend the Editorial Panel meeting Feb 6 – 8.  We are also working on attending the RUC meeting in February.  RUC meetings determine Medicare allowed amounts, and while we can’t contribute, (only Medicare enrolled specialties can comment) we can attend to monitor efforts to re-value codes commonly used by acupuncturists.

Medicaid Committee – Chair, Denise Tyson
The Medicaid Committee continues to move forward with the following goals: 1. To educate providers, regulators and legislators about acupuncture and its cost-effective evidence based non-opioid treatment for pain, PTSD and other symptoms. 2. To support any ASA state organization seeking to become providers under Medicaid to have support and tools to do so. 3. To continue to advance our Medicine and be ambassadors for our Medicine and why it matters to be involved in Medicaid programs.

In October 2024, Jared West presented important information about Medicaid coverage in Ohio and in select states in the U.S.  Maryland is planning to present  a bill for adult Medicaid coverage in January 2025.

For more information, you can reach out directly to gro.u1736921887casa@1736921887diaci1736921887deM1736921887 or to one of our committee members: Jared West, Denise Tyson, Amy Mager, Joe Pandolfo, Beth Howlett, Tuesday Wasserman and Laura Ocker

Membership/Benefits Committee – Chair, Grace Ouchida
The M/BC had a productive 2024 that we’d like to share with you:
 –   Updating ASA’s annual digital badge and membership certificate.
 –   Assisting in planning and producing ASA’s 2024 and 2025 Conference.
–    Presenting “Insurance Matters: Beyond Malpractice”, a recorded webinar for ASA’s 2024 Pre-conference in March.
–    Working to put out a call for Occupation Expert volunteers to participate in the O*NET Date Collection Program, sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, for the “Acupuncturists” profession. This listing was updated based on extensive interviews with acupuncturists across the U.S.: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1291.00. O*NET is the nation’s most comprehensive source of occupational data and is a free resource for millions of job seekers, employers, veterans, educators, and students at www.oonetonline.org.
–   Securing two new benefits for ASA members. Transformational Herbal Pharmacy offers a 5% discount on orders, and Poplin offers $25 of the 1st order for professional laundry service (more information and to access discount codes, visit Member Benefits Package)
–    Participating in the School Path Task Force

We will continue to work to secure more member benefits and grow our membership in 2025. Wishing everyone a wondrous holiday season and Happy New Year!

Nominating Committee: Chair, Alexandra Russell
We are accepting applications for all committees.  Use this form to apply for a committee positions!
NomCom is looking for 1-2 applicants.
We also invite candidates for ASA Board of Directors
Read this to learn about BOD Positions and how to apply
Reach out anytime with questions ~ gro.u1736921887casa@1736921887mocmo1736921887n1736921887 

Research Committee – Chair, Lisa Conboy
The Research Committee is near submission of its second scientific paper, here looking at Diversity and Inclusion in our profession. A subcommittee is working on design and content of the Research Committee for the ASA Website.  Third, we are designing more effective ways of supporting the efforts of other ASA committees.

Social Media Committee – Chair, Louis Jin
The Social Media Committee continues to prowl ahead and make timely posts on ASA socials and considers several options that will align with ASA’s social outreach goals and collaborative advocacy strategies with its partners in the AHM coalition.

Strategic Planning Committee – Chair, Candace Sarges
The Strategic Planning Committee took on 2 big and complex projects this past year.

1) Development of an acupuncture trigger point needling class to balance the didactic and practical information so that the practice is more consistent nationwide.  This would also provide a revenue stream for the ASA.
2) Development of a leadership training program for all ASA member Boards and others, like Committee Chairs.  

Both projects are broad and involved and are taking longer than expected to launch, but we are continuing to move ahead on each of them.  

Website Committee – Chair,  Jeff Bloom
MacDragon has completed and launched several sites this year with more to launch by the end of the year. You can see the list below.

Completed:
PA Sept 2023
ASA National Dec 2023
NJ Feb 2024
OR May 2024
NC August 2024
WI End of Sept/Oct 2024
VT Nov 2024

In process (expected launch month):
TN Dec 2024
CT Dec 2024
WA Dec 2024
FL Dec 2024

Several other states have been in discussion to switch to the new platform, and we hope to launch all states looking to join the platform by the end of 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact gro.u1736921887casa@1736921887moolb1736921887ffej1736921887.

ASA Joint developments

On December 3, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order granting a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts the enforcement of the federal Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”).

Selected key considerations:

• FinCEN (the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) on its website at https://boiefiling.fincen.gov/fileboir has posted the following notice (as of December 10, 2024) concerning the filing of beneficial ownership reports (“BOIRs”):

“Please note that beneficial ownership information reporting requirements have been affected by a recent federal court order. The Department of the Treasury is appealing that order. In the meantime, reporting companies are not currently required to file a BOIR and are not subject to liability if they fail to do so while the applicable order remains in force.

However, reporting companies may still opt to file a BOIR.”

• For now, entities subject to the CTA and that existed before January 1, 2024, will not be required to file BOIRs with FinCEN by December 31, 2024.
• The preliminary injunction may not protect any entities that were formed in 2024 and did not file the BOIRs (this is especially a concern for entities that were created in 2024 and the 90-day deadline to make the filing had passed by December 3, 2024).
• The preliminary injunction might not apply to entities that are formed in 2025.  However, FinCEN does not appear, for now, to be taking such a position.
• The Order is temporary, and companies may still wish to proceed with the filing of BOIRs.
• At a minimum, entities subject to the CTA must be ready to file BOIRs immediately, with the possibility that the preliminary injunction will be lifted and the December 31, 2024 deadline could be in place again.
• Congress and FinCEN may take additional action before the end of the year based on the preliminary injunction.
• All entities subject to the CTA must carefully consider the appropriate course of action and should consult with competent legal counsel to examine the specific facts and circumstances of this matter.

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State Association Updates

California CSOMA

During the first quarter of 2024, CSOMA focused on strengthening our advocacy efforts by building a network of acupuncturists throughout the state as part of our new District Rep Program. This grassroots program was designed to get us more involved in the legislative process by reaching out to legislators in districts throughout California with volunteers who vote in those districts. A primary legislative goal for CSOMA is to educate politicians about what acupuncturists do and how we serve the community. We also welcomed three new board members.

In April, CSOMA met with legislators to discuss two new bills coming to the floor and the possible introduction of a dry-needling and/or athletic trainer bill.

In May and June, CSOMA mobilized quickly when acupuncture reimbursement for Medi-Cal (low income state insurance) was on the budgetary chopping block. We rallied with other acupuncture groups, schools and patients to call and write our legislators, sign petitions, create favorable media coverage, and arrange meetings with budget committees.

CSOMA is happy to report that on June 24, 2024 — Governor Gavin Newsom retracted the proposed budget cut to the Medi-Cal acupuncture program for low-income Californians for the 2024-2025 budgetary year.

This reversal marked a significant victory for healthcare providers and advocates who have long championed acupuncture as a vital component of comprehensive medical care.

In September, CSOMA hosted a successful two-day conference in Oakland with legendary acupuncturists Susan Johnson, Matthew Bauer, Andy Ellis and Jenny Nieters. The excitement and good vibes created requests for a second annual conference in Southern California and will be hosted at Yo San University in the Los Angeles area.

CSOMA rounded out the last quarter of a busy 2024 with several board members attending the Pacific Symposium, where we maximized face-to-face time with our Southern California members and chatted with students full of questions about how to engage in the profession.

CSOMA’s 2025 Community Events!
Town Hall Meeting – Tuesday, February 11, 2025 from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm via Zoom – Association and State updates
March Conference – Saturday & Sunday, March 15 &16, 2025 @ Yo San University, Los Angeles

Florida

FSOMA has had great success this past year. We are grateful to the continued support of our members and the profession at large. We share with you some of our Accomplishments in 2024:

1. Legislative: Successful 1st attempt Introduction of 457 to the House committees.  We were voted on in one committee and it was a tie vote.  No Senate Committee heard the bill.  13 Legislative visits with campaign contributions to vital legislators were made this Fall so far.  Changes in Senate President and FMA President are favorable this year.
2. Conference: executed another great Conference at a new venue – The Florida Hotel.  Revenue generated was 40K.
3. Fundraising: We sold T-shirts, used book sale and Exhibitors donated coupons towards their products.  Raised $1,560 from T-shirt and coupons,  and $1,408 from book sale $4,274 from the Silent Auction.  PAC $25K, LDF $3,885.
4. Advocacy: Acu-Ed day – Treated 70+, supported Legislative visits and legislator education; South Florida Radio campaign, Few Central/South Florida Health fairs; Washington DC legislators outreach and provided Acupuncture for DC event; Ocala Health Fair. Next ASA is April 25-27, 2025 in Washington DC.
5. Membership: Alls schools are now FSOMA members; lapsed members outreach via, call, newsletter, social media and print postcard; revive of Sarasota members outreach
6. Insurance: Support of members via providing E/M appeal letter; and current information on insurance changes via town hall, social media, and newsletter.

We also welcome a new Board of Directors:

• President: Stuart Shipe, AP
• Vice President: Sandra Kahn, AP, RN
• Treasurer: Galina V. Roofener, AP
• Secretary: Lynn McPhearson, AP
• Nominations & Board Development Chair: Rebecca Acosta, AP
• Conference Chair: Kym Caporale, AP
• Director: Theresa Gilmore, AP
• CEU Chair: Carrie Graves, AP
• Advocacy Chair: Cynthiaann Hayes-Hurst, AP
• Fundraising Chair: Harvey Kaltsas, AP
• ByLaws Chair: Mary Riggin, AP
• Editor: Rachel Siditsky, AP
• CEU Vice Chair: Gretchen Thevenau, AP
• Membership Chair: Dickie Walls, AP

Office Staff:

• Executive Director: Ellen Teeter, AP
• Director of Communications: Natalia Morrison, AP

Maine 

Maine Acupuncture Society started the year with our annual Hall of Flags event visiting the State House and speaking with legislators. We also worked on Anthem recoupments for E/M codes. With the help of our lobbying group, President Jessica Peck-Lindsay had a meeting with Anthem and the Maine Bureau of Insurance in February to address lack of communication about a policy and procedure change for the modifier 25 (E&M) billing code in January 2023 and lack of response from Anthem to provider appeals. Our Annual Meeting in April was well attended and generated interest in MAS participation. We happily welcomed Bonnie Freitas in July who stepped into the role of Secretary.  MAS hosted a special Town Hall review of the Federal requirements impacting Acupuncturists in 2025 to recap what was shared at the ASA Town Hall in August. MAS is grateful to have gained access to BillTrack 50 and to have both, Garrett Mason of Dirigo Public Affairs, and Cristi DeMarco, (MAS Treasurer, Membership Chair, and ASA Primary Delegate reviewing legislative matters. In the spirit of member support, MAS provided space and collaboration with a member for a CEU event in November. Overall, 2024 has been a year of steady growth for the society and we look forward to continuing this trend with multiple special events and CEU opportunities planned.

Maryland

Maryland Acupuncture Society changed the name of the organization to Maryland Association of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine (MAAEAM) this year to support public awareness of East Asian medicine as a system of medicine and not solely acupuncture. MAAEAM hosted a virtual mental health webinar series for acupuncturists and a livestream Master Tung lecture with Susan Johnson. Course recordings for CEU credits are available at https://www.marylandacupuncturesociety.org/distance-learning-continuing-education-units-ceu-professional-development-activity-pda/. We hosted Town Halls in January 2024 to discuss the legislative initiatives for 2024 with Maryland acupuncturists and introduced our lobbyists, The Bellamy Genn Group; and in September 2024 to discuss the state of our profession and the progress of adding acupoint injection therapy to the Maryland Acupuncture Practice Act. In November 2024, MAAEAM with assistance from our lobbyists resolved a state-wide issue with Carefirst BCBS which resulted in non-payment of claims. Carefirst attempted to use CMS Medicare payment rules  to limit the number of visits regardless of the patient’s benefit plan coverage. Carefirst apologized and retroactively paid the denied claims.

MAAEAM held Board elections in November 2024 with the following results:

Lindy Burns as President, Erin Langley as VP of Internal Affairs, Li Ying Diao, VP of Public Affairs and Laura King as Secretary.  The past President, Denise Tyson, remains on the Board as a non-voting member for one year.  The remaining Board members are Yvonne Zhang, Treasurer; Cory Glasgow, Member at Large and Hunter Thompson, Member at Large.

2024 has been a year of restructuring and advancement of our profession. MAAEAM has empowered our members with the knowledge and support to be successful in their practices and employment.

Massachusetts

The  Acupuncture Society of Massachusetts continues to advocate for high standards for our profession and those we serve. We continue to offer Acu- Talks, and will be filing legislation to have all commercial insurance plans cover acupuncture for pain, PTSD, nausea, and opiate addiction. Currently all Medicaid plans in the Commonwealth cover these diagnoses. We are also filing a bill to clearly define standards and qualifications to be met for Dry Needling by any non-licensed acupuncturist or non-MD in the Commonwealth.

Michigan

Sam Buchanan has agreed to serve as the interim president of MiSA.

Native to California and where I obtained my formal education, a BS in Dietetics from SFSU and later a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from ACTCM in San Francisco. Then a Doctorate  from Pacific College in San Diego. Following my studies, I gained invaluable clinical experience working in hospitals in China. I also spent several years in public health, helping run the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic and San Francisco Community Acupuncture. I currently am working on furthering my education in Functional Medicine through IFM.

Now that I’ve joined the board, I see firsthand how tirelessly the MiSA board has been working to address significant issues that protect our patients, support practitioners, and advance our profession. This is the time to keep the ball rolling and work together to reach for those goals that we would collectively like to see happen as a profession.

As interim president until the next election in the summer, I am committed to:
1.    Advancing Credentialing and Licensure: Ensuring that Michigan has the highest standards for acupuncture practice, safeguarding patient safety.
2.    Strengthening MiSA’s Stability: Building a financially strong and stable society that can allocate resources to the priorities that matter most to our members.
3.    Fostering Community and Advocacy: Cultivating a stronger sense of community within our profession and addressing challenges such as unqualified individuals performing acupuncture.

Upcoming workshop in Michigan!
Michelle Gellis
Facial Acupuncture
June 21-22, 2024
Detroit Michigan
Register Here: https://facialacupunctureclasses.com/courses/hands-on-practice-june-2025-detroit.

Minnesota

We started off the year with a return to our annual Day at the Capitol. We had a promising turnout and made an impactful impression on our state legislators. Our scope of practice update bill made it further than ever, breezing through the senate committee, but not quite getting included in the final omnibus amidst the chaotic final hours of this year’s session. We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to build on that success to finally get it signed into laws during the 25-26 biennium.

We transitioned to a new website and membership system late in 2023, which was more challenging in many ways. Therefore, much of our work behind the scenes was focused on better understanding the new system and working to help members renew their membership through the new system. For MN acupuncturists reading this, please double check that you are still an active member, as we had quite a few not renew on the new system.

We rounded off the year with a CE class on insurance and billing and our annual membership meeting in October. We’re now in the midst of planning what we’re hoping will be a very active year in 2025.

New Jersey

2024:  Germination in the Garden State

NJAS ends 2024 in a strong position to continue to protect and advance the acupuncture profession. Pivotal to attaining our goals, the association has retained Robert (Rob) Nixon of State House Strategies, a results-driven government relations firm specializing in the NJ legislative process. With 30 years experience, a keen understanding of NJ’s legislative in and outs and two “Teacher of the Year” Awards as an adjunct professor Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania where he has taught Government Relations for the past 18 years, Rob clearly stood out as the right person to represent NJAS. He was quick to gain a good understanding of the issues facing our profession such as encroachment and insurance reimbursement and formulate a working plan to get a jump on 2025. We are very excited to be working with him and look forward to executing our plans.

Presenting quality educational opportunities was another achievement this past year. The feather in our cap was  “Safe and Effective Treatment of Pregnant Patients” as instructed by Caroline Radice, DACM, LAc. NJAS attorney John Murdoch presented several seminars providing free legal advice to our members, including a step by step walkthrough of completing the beneficiary ownership information for LLCs as required by the Corporate Transparency Act.  We also created the Case Study Power Hour as a means for practitioners to discuss specific cases  that were especially fulfilling or challenging, and often resulting in a free-flowing exchange of views and treatment methods among the attendees.

Building a strong sense of community among NJ acupuncturists is a high priority and to that end, NJAS also hosted monthly  networking events, commencing with our Lunar New Year dim sum luncheon. Several hiking meetups were planned–what could be better than communing with nature while networking?– but many became coffee meetups instead due to unfavorable weather conditions. Those who came out to these get-togethers remarked how much they enjoyed connecting with colleagues and helping each other work through practice challenges, from difficult cases to business management issues. NJAS also moved forward in the digital age in 2024. Our improved website rolled out this year, providing greater functionality and reliability for our members. We revamped our newsletters, going with a monthly format with some recurring features.  We are proud to say since making that change both our newsletters and our emails are enjoying higher open rates than ever!  As we become more savvy with the technology, we look forward to bringing more to our members through our website.

New York

ASNY has had a busy year! In January, we went to Albany to educate lawmakers on the efficacy and cost savings potential of acupuncture, problems with private insurance and how they impede the state’s goal of providing New Yorkers with more access to non-pharmacological treatment options for pain relief, and the need to maintain high standards of care in acupuncture defeating bills that would reduce training standards.

After a day of meetings we went out to dinner with our lobbyists.

In February we offered our members a free insurance webinar with Lauren Shafer of Shafer billing, and we had a Lunar New Year celebration in Long Island.

We held our spring banquet in Chinatown this year at Golden Unicorn. We were joined by our lobbyists and Assembly Member Ron Kim. It was a festive, celebratory evening and we raised money for our lobbying efforts.

In June, we offered a two-day in-person Pulse Diagnosis class taught by Ross Rosen of the Shen-Hammer tradition. Attendees gave the class rave reviews.

In August we had a picnic for our members in Brooklyn. It was a delightful day with perfect weather, and we discussed the future of our profession over lunch.

In September, ASNY President Beth Nugent and our lobbyists at Shenker, Russo and Clark attended a meeting with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s office. Senator Gillibrand will be introducing a Senate version of a bill that mirrors HR3133, Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act.

Henry McCann taught a well-attended Master Tung’s class for us in New York City, and we had a picnic in the Finger Lakes region enjoyed by several members who live upstate.

ASNY President Beth Nugent spoke at a press conference on October 29th for Assembly Member Ron Kim in support of Assembly bill 6913 which would require acupuncture to be an essential health benefit on the exchange.  Assembly Member Kim also announced he will be initiating action to have acupuncture included in NY state’s Medicaid system.

On December 4th Sarit Hirschkorn taught a webinar for our members on Mastering Claims: Documentation, Medical Necessity, and Navigating Insurance Challenges,and on December 5th we held our Town Hall meeting and social hour at Pacific College of Health and Science.

North Carolina

In January, NCSAAM board member, Rose Mulhearn, DACM, LAc, and Durham, NC acupuncturist Michael Harding, LAc. delivered a presentation on the efficacy of acupuncture at a meeting of the Budget Committee for the North Carolina State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees.

To advocate for HR3133 during the ASA’s Hill Day on Capitol Hill, April 8th, NCCAOM Advocacy & Government Relations Director Molly Ford, and NCSAAM board member Mary Beth Jones-Prizer, DACM, LAc, met with the office of Congressman Greg Murphy (Rep., NC District 3,). Joining the meeting was Marilyn Allen, nationally-recognized speaker on alternative healthcare, acupuncture advocacy pioneer, and World Health Organization (WHO) liaison.

Our annual NCSAAM Spring Symposium was held in May with this year’s theme highlighting Integrative Acupuncture Medicine.

Featured speakers were  luminaries Kiiko Matsumoto, Lac. presenting Abdominal and Neck Palpatory Diagnosis and Chinese Su Wen and Ling Shu, and Dr. Randine Lewis, PhD. teaching from her newest book, Spirit of the Blood: Interpreting Lab Results Through the Lens of Chinese Medicine.

Mark T. Brinson, DOM, integrative manual technique expert, presented a class on Scar Tissue Release.  

This year’s event opened with our first ever ✨VENDOR EXPO!!!✨ featuring product presentations with audience participation, and numerous prizes 🎁.

NCSAAM also launched Phase 1 of its NEW WEBSITE as part of the ASA/State Organization Website Platform 🌐 project. Phases 2 and 3 are anticipated to launch by Summer of 2025.

Hurricane Helene Disaster in Western North Carolina
NCSAAM extends our sincerest appreciation to the ASA, the NCCAOM, and all who rose to support those affected by this devastating storm. As more than half of all practicing North Carolina LAcs live or work in the disaster area, our community has been affected in unprecedented ways. We will continue efforts to help those on the long and challenging road to recovery.

A special note of thanks goes to Eren Raymond who worked tirelessly on our website in the days following the disaster. With his help we were able to publish and update relief effort information, as well as accept donations.

Wishing You Happy Holidays!

Oregon

OAA News:

A.  Note From the President

It has been a busy year for the OAA and we are motivated by the progress that we have made. This year we came together for our annual conference and met in person for the first time since COVID. While it was a bit bittersweet, being that it was hosted at OCOM, it was also well received and it felt great being able to be in the same room with many of our members. We received a lot of great feedback from our membership on the hybrid event and plan to use it as a learning opportunity for future events.

Having used the last several years to educate our board and set up foundational relationships we were also able to hit the ground running this year with our advocacy efforts! Please be sure to read the Advocacy Committee update for details and language surrounding our 2025 bill as well as information about bills that might influence our profession that is not being put forward by the OAA.

This year we welcomed Betsy Gordon onto our board after Andrew Vu stepped down.  We also made a slight restructure by splitting the tasks of the Advocacy Committee into a subleader, led by Elizabeth Bourgeois, who focuses on agency relations and meetings! This restructure has allowed us to create at minimum quarterly meetings with the DCBS (Department of Consumer and Business Services), the OHA (Oregon Health Authority) and the OMB (Oregon Medical Board). These meetings are integral to ensuring we have an active voice in the shaping of our profession within Oregon and to help us gain knowledge needed in order to create effective legislation. This has also allowed me the time to take a deep dive into our legislative efforts and build a coalition in order to be more productive. Be sure to follow our emails and social media in order to keep up to date with our efforts and calls to action!

B. Advocacy Committee Update
Legislative:
I cannot emphasize enough that we need your support and your time to help us spread the word about our legislative efforts! Our Legislative Concept (LC), LC1183, has been officially submitted by Rep Nosse’s office as of 12/5/25. This bill will focus on hopes to create a process within the OHA and the DCBS for medical providers to submit complaints in regards to insurance carriers. We hope to bridge a critical gap in order to hold insurers accountable and break down barriers for patients accessing care. A link to this bill can be accessed below. If you have any questions or feedback please feel free to email me directly or, better yet, attend an advocacy meeting which is held on the second Friday of every month at 8am.

LC1183_DRAFT_2025_Regular_Session.pdf

Other legislative concepts that could have influence to our profession and are not being put forward by the OAA 

As with all things in government, there is a lot of waiting around followed by a lot of quick movement. This means that we will often have short deadlines to make decisions and to action plans this legislative session. Please watch the OAA’s video recording where I talk in depth about this LC, the legislative process and a brief timeline. Please keep a close eye on your emails and the OAA’s social media for information and updates. Most importantly, please share this information with your peers, colleagues, friends and families! Please use our talking points as a guide and distribute the One Pager as much as you can. The only way legislators can prioritize this is if they know that it is a priority AND they hear people talk about it at nauseum!

C. Membership Committee Update
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and linkedin for an easy way to keep updated with news about upcoming events, our legislative concept, the national association and other things that our members are doing.

We are also working on some resources for our members, to help out with starting a business, or a non-profit. We have a list of professional contacts that you have provided for various services, including bookkeeping/accounting, legal advice, business consulting, and credentialing/billing.

Upcoming Events:
Saturday 12/7/24: In-person social event: Lucky Lab Chill Time

• Location: Lucky Lab NW (Quimby St)
• Time: 5:30 PM

Tuesday 1/7/24: Online talk by Dr. Sonny

• Time: 6:00 PM
• Topic: To be determined

Some members have expressed an interest in organizing events in Salem, so stay tuned for that! If you have an area of special interest that you’d like to speak about, or would like to host an event in your region, reach out to Kristy at moc.s1736921887tsiru1736921887tcnup1736921887ucano1736921887gero@1736921887ofni1736921887.

Since we’re closing out the year with our businesses, OAA is asking for end-of-year donations to either the organization or to our PAC. Donation links are on our website.

As always, we appreciate you. Your participation is integral to our mission to advance the profession and honor the tradition of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in Oregon  and supporting integration of professional and authentic acupuncture medicine into Oregon and U.S. health care systems.

If you’d like to join in our Membership Committee meetings, use this link to be added to our meeting list.

D. Research Committee Update
The Research Committee is working on a large literature review for submission to the Oregon Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC). The HERC is Oregon Health Authority’s review body for determining which conditions have sufficient evidence to be included as a covered condition, and currently whether that condition will be above or below the [funding] line. Although the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) is changing how groups of conditions are covered, the HERC will remain a part of the process for determining which conditions are covered. We plan to have this scoping review done and submitted by the end of winter season 2025. Included in the submission will be current research (mainly systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials done within the last 5 years) regarding acupuncture for pain management, mental-health (depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD), gastrointestinal issues, and respiratory conditions (allergic rhinitis), as well as patient satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, and safety. Research on women’s health (PMS/PMDD symptoms including pain, infertility, labor induction, labor pain, perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms) may also be included. If you would like to help out, please email moc.s1736921887tsiru1736921887tcnup1736921887ucano1736921887gero@1736921887hcrae1736921887ser1736921887.

The Oregon Pain Management Commission (OPMC) continues to work on the Changing the Conversation About Pain video. This video is a one-hour module on pain management that is required viewing for all medical professionals in Oregon as part of the licensure process. The OAA Research Committee contributed by submitting written and verbal content. To help balance the video content for each profession, the OPMC has indicated they will be heavily relying on AI-generated content as well as all of the public testimony gathered at each public hearing the OPMC has held over the last year. The new video should be out sometime in early 2025.

Research Highlight

Acupuncture in cancer care: recommendations for safe practice (peer‐reviewed expert opinion) by Betsy de Valois and colleagues (2024) provides “up-to-date recommendations for the safe practice of acupuncture in integrative oncology. This update replaces/updates Filshie and Hester’s 2006 guidelines for “safe and appropriate care by acupuncturists working with people with cancer” and Zollman’s 2018 updates. These guidelines are based on 2022/2023 expert panel recommendations of three integrative oncologists and “are the first international, multidisciplinary peer-reviewed recommendations” for acupuncture treatment during/post cancer treatment. These recommendations were reviewed by twelve international experts (senior acupuncturists, oncologists, physicians, nurses, researchers, academics, and professional representatives).

The guidelines emphasize safe care through elucidation of contra-indications, cautions, and risks” for patients undergoing any stage of cancer treatment (including surgery, systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), radiotherapy, or treatment completion). Contraindications for acupuncture or situations where adaptations to acupuncture practice need to be made are highlighted, along with a system of Red and Amber Flags when referral is needed. The authors urge that adherence and adoption of these guidelines as an acupuncture community can help to build bridges with the integrative oncology community and increase referrals to acupuncturists for patient care.

Pennsylvania


2024 has been a year for reassessment and planning, beginning with welcoming Eric Raymond Buckley to the Board and installing BJ Putnam as President and Eric Buckley as Vice President while reconfirming Jan Wilson as Secretary, Linda Silva as Treasurer, Jaime Gordon as head of Membership, and Janelle Farkas as Student Representative and Webmaster. The Annual General Meeting and Silent Auction was held on February 25th and was well attended. The APA joined forces with the Won Institute for Graduate Studies on June 25th for the annual visit to our state capital for a day of acupuncture demonstrations and advocacy. That day, HB 1490 which updated the PA Acupuncture Licensure Act was passed after years of active work. It allows acupuncturists licensed in other states to attend or conduct educational events, as well as volunteer in the Commonwealth in an emergency. It also implements continuing education requirements for license renewal, bringing acupuncturists in line with requirements in other states and other licensed healthcare providers in Pennsylvania. The APA has spent much time and energy on a membership drive and in fundraising efforts so that we may continue to pay for our professional lobbyist.

A new agreement was entered into with the Won Institute for Graduate Studies which will give our members discounts to their teaching dispensary and a generous discount on the use of the school’s facilities for future events.

We are now turning our sites towards improving insurance billing for acupuncturists and encouraging practitioners to utilize the full scope of practice legally allowed. We are also looking forward to hosting new educational events, starting with Introduction to Hari, taught by Ehrland Truitt on April 12 – 13th, 2025. Registration is now open and early bird pricing is in effect until 2/12/25. APAPENN.com

Tennessee

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Tennessee Acupuncture Council (TAC) has mobilized to support the resilient communities in East Tennessee. Our team has been hard at work, providing community acupuncture sessions to volunteers, first responders, and community members affected by the disaster. This initiative offers a safe and calming environment where individuals can find peace and restore balance amid the stress and challenges they face.

Over the past month, TAC has hosted numerous events across the region, offering acupuncture sessions aimed at relieving stress, alleviating pain, and promoting mental and physical wellness. We understand the profound impact of natural disasters on mental and physical health, and we’re committed to making a meaningful difference in the recovery journey of these communities.

We’re incredibly grateful to Acupuncture Without Borders for their crucial support and specialized training. Their partnership has enabled us to equip our practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver compassionate and effective care to those in need, ensuring that every person affected by this disaster has access to relief and relaxation.

As we continue these efforts, we invite acupuncturists and volunteers to join us in making a difference. For those interested in participating, more information can be found on our website at [Tennessee Acupuncture Council](http://www.tnacupuncturecouncil.org).

Together with East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and our partners at NCSAAM, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone supporting this initiative and standing in solidarity with those affected.

Looking ahead, we’re also excited to announce the TAC Annual Meeting and Conference, set for March 1st, 2025. This gathering will offer a unique opportunity for acupuncturists, students, and wellness advocates to come together, share knowledge, and celebrate the growth and progress in our field. We look forward to connecting with you, discussing our experiences, and planning for a bright future of care, collaboration, and healing in East Tennessee.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. More details will be on our website and social pages soon. We look forward to seeing you in March!

Next meeting is 9/9/2024.

 

  

TAAOM recently had its fall 2024 BOD meeting on 12/8/24, and had the following items covered.

1. Review Minutes of last meeting – 9/8/24, in which the BOD voted in favor of MemberLeap over MacDragon as the new web developer by a vote of 5-4, two new members were appointed to the BOD (Qiaosha He, who will head up Advocacy Committee, and Diana Lane, who will be part of Events Committee)  
2. Dr Louis Jin gave a brief ASA Meeting Report, updating the BOD with the recent happenings, with assistance from Dr. Jing Fan 
3. Treasurer’s Report by Dr Louis Jin showed the growth from revenue gained from the annual Fall Seminar hosted by Leslie Myers. Thanks to all the volunteers.
4. Membership Committee Report – Update on accounts, expenses, member roster – current active professional members hover around 360, up slightly from last year this time.
5. Website Review & Updated logo discussion (new logo and website considerations)
6. Events Committee / Symposium Report (2025 Fall Seminar to be held in Richardson, TX in person)
7. Advocacy Committee Report – legal direction of TAAOM’s efforts in 2025 and beyond. – Scope protection vs expansion (DN, injections, etc)

 

Washington

New Website Coming Soon!
WAEMA is looking forward to our upcoming new website with a space to host our online meeting videos and expand to include more continuing education, easier members-only access, and repository of information.

Legislation
Within the space of 1 month Washington turned quickly from planning for a 24-visit Medicaid expansion to all Apple Health participants to no “new” coverage. Existing coverage (ranging from 7-12 visits per year) will continue, but the 24 visit expansion is on hold indefinitely. Labor and Industries allowed Chronic Migraine headaches to be covered starting in Sept. Those patients get 24 visits and providers must follow specific guidelines. We also have backed the Washington State Medical Association in their advocacy efforts to increase Medicaid Access and reimbursements. WA remains one of the lowest reimbursed Medicaid programs, which has the effect of the State and practitioners subsidizing patient care. We are also continuing to work with a number of other in-state professional organizations to negotiate directly with insurers for annual pay increases.

In progress
We are working on a systematic review for Labor and Industries expansion to include Neck pain and related ailments, including tension-type headaches which were previously excluded due to a lack of robust evidence. We are also investigating limited prescriptive rights and the ability to order limited labs. AND We are planning for more social events beginning with Lunar New Year!

Continuing Education and Membership
We had our two yearly member meetings where we come together for CE courses and hear from the Board of Directors and our Public Policy Lead/Lobbyist. The meetings were well attended and included cosmetic acupuncture, dry needling, hospice/death doula work, esoteric practice, and more! We also had a membership drive which increased our membership to 16% of all Washington AEMP.

The Board of Directors is proud to be of service for all Washington Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Providers. We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Wisconsin

New Website Launch
In collaboration with Mac Dragon and dedicated efforts from the team, WISCA proudly launched its new website: https://www.acupuncturewisconsin.org/. The board has been actively learning to navigate and utilize this new platform to better serve members and enhance efficiency.

Annual Meeting Recap
WISCA hosted its annual meeting on October 13, 2024, in Milwaukee, WI. The event featured an insightful seminar by Dr. Xiping Zhou on the Back-Shu and Front-Mu Tandem Needling Technique for GERD and a holistic acupuncture approach to treating Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Members also received updates from committee chairs and the board, reflecting the ongoing efforts to advance our mission.

Committee Initiatives
The Education Committee had an active year, highlighted by: Hosting a free seminar, “Insurance 101” on June 9, 2024, designed to prepare students for successful acupuncture careers. Coordinating the speaker for the annual meeting, applying for CEUs, and distributing credits. Advocacy committee has been working on the acupuncture  inclusion in medicaid; The Insurance Committee has been assisting members with VA and Anthem recoupment challenges, providing much-needed guidance and support; Looking ahead, the Membership Committee is working to expand member benefits, leveraging the capabilities of the new website platform to provide more value and resources.

WISCA remains committed to empowering its members and advancing the practice of acupuncture across Wisconsin. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to the profession!