2019 -- H 5570

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LC001826

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - THE HEALING ART OF

ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE - NEW TITLE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Edwards, and Solomon

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 5-37.2 of the General Laws entitled "The Healing Art

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of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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CHAPTER 5-37.2

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The Healing Art of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

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CHAPTER 5-37.2

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THE HEALING ART OF ACUPUNCTURE AND EAST ASIAN MEDICINE

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     SECTION 2. Sections 5-37.2-1, 5-37.2-1.1, 5-37.2-2, 5-37.2-7, 5-37.2-8.1, 5-37.2-9, 5-

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37.2-10, 5-37.2-12, 5-37.2-12.1, 5-37.2-12.2, 5-37.2-12.3, 5-37.2-14, 5-37.2-15, 5-37.2-18, 5-

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37.2-19, 5-37.2-20 and 5-37.2-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-37.2 entitled "The Healing

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Art of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     5-37.2-1. Legislative declaration -- Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

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     The practice of the healing art of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine, and any

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branch of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine, is declared to be a learned profession,

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affecting public safety and welfare and charged with the public interest, and subject to protection

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and regulation by the state.

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     5-37.2-1.1. Board of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Board of acupuncture and

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East Asian medicine.

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     (a) The director of the department shall appoint a board of acupuncture and Oriental East

 

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Asian medicine. The board shall consist of five (5) members, all of whom shall be residents of the

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state, four (4) of whom shall be doctors of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine licensed

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by the department and engaged in the practice of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine

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in the state for at least five (5) years prior to their appointment, and there shall be one public

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member. The members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years; each member may serve a

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maximum of two (2) consecutive, full terms. No member of the board of acupuncture and

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Oriental East Asian medicine shall receive compensation for his or her attendance at meetings of

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the board.

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     (b) The director of health may remove any member from the board for neglect of any

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duty required by law or for any incompetency, unprofessional, or dishonorable conduct.

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Vacancies created by voluntary resignation or removal by the director of health shall be filled in

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the same manner as the original appointment was made for the remainder of the term.

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     5-37.2-2. Definitions.

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     Unless the context otherwise requires, the words, phrases, and derivatives employed in

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this chapter have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

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     (1) "Acupuncture" means the insertion of needles into the human body by piercing the

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skin of the body, for the purpose of controlling and regulating the flow of energy and blood in the

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body.

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     (2) "Acupuncture and East Asian medicine" means a form of health care, with a

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foundation in classical Chinese medical concepts and theory, that employs Chinese medical

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diagnostic methods such as pulse, tongue, palpatory and observational diagnosis, acupuncture and

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adjunct therapies for the promotion, maintenance or restoration of health, and the treatment or

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prevention of any ailment. The techniques and modalities of acupuncture and East Asian

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medicine may include acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, laser acupuncture, moxibustion (heat

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therapy), cupping, TDP and infared lamps, Tuina, Qi Gong, Gwa/sha, Chinese herbal medicine,

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homeopathy and supplemental therapy, Chinese dietary therapy, breathing exercises, and life-

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style changing consultations.

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     (3) "Auricular acupuncture technician" means a qualified individual, not licensed as an

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acupuncturist, who is certified to practice auricular acupuncture using a standardized protocol

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developed by the National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA) for the treatment of

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addictions, mental and behavioral health, disaster relief, and emotional trauma. Auricular

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acupuncture specialist training is that which is based on the program developed by NADA, and is

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delivered by NADA, or equivalent.

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     (2)(4) "Department" means the state department of health.

 

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     (3)(5) "Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental East Asian Medicine" means a person

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licensed under the provisions of this chapter to practice the art of healing known as acupuncture

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and Oriental East Asian medicine.

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     (4) "Oriental medicine" means a form of health care, based on classical Chinese medical

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concepts and modern Oriental medical techniques, that employs Chinese medical diagnosis such

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as pulse, tongue, palpatory, and observational diagnosis, as well as acupuncture therapies and

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diagnostic techniques based on newer scientific models for the assessment, treatment, prevention,

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and cure of any disease with the purpose of full health restoration. The techniques and modalities

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of Oriental medicine include acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, laser acupuncture, moxibustion

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(heat therapy), cupping, TDP and infrared lamps, Tuina, Qi Gong, Gwa/sha, thermograpthy,

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herbal GMP standardized therapy, homeopathy and supplement therapy, chinese dieting therapy,

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breathing exercises, and life-style change consultations.

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     (6) "Doctor of Acupuncture" means a person licensed under the provisions of this chapter

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practice the art of healing known as acupuncture.

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     (7) "General Supervision" includes, but is not limited to being available by phone or

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other electronic means during business hours.

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     (8) "Qualified individual" means a licensed health care professional, recovery coach, peer

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counselor, or a person trained and certified in acudetox. A qualified individual is required to be

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under general supervision of a licensed acupuncturist.

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     5-37.2-7. Powers of department.

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     For the purpose of conducting its responsibilities under this chapter, the department shall:

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     (1) Engage persons of established reputation and known ability in acupuncture and

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Oriental East Asian medicine as consultants to the department; the Rhode Island Society of

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Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and any other professional association of acupuncture and

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Oriental East Asian medicine are designated as appropriate bodies with which the department

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shall consult for referral of consultants and other assistance to the department.

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     (2) Maintain an office in the state to carry out the provisions of this chapter;

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     (3) Promulgate rules and regulations, or either of them, not inconsistent with the

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provisions of this chapter. These rules and regulations may include a code of ethics regulating the

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professional conduct of licensees; and

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     (4) Compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence by subpoena and

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administer oaths.

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     5-37.2-8.1. License required.

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     (a) Unless licensed as a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine under

 

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this chapter, or exempt from licensure under the provisions of this chapter, no person shall

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practice or hold himself or herself out as practicing, or engaging in the practice of, acupuncture

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and Oriental East Asian medicine, either for compensation or gratuitously.

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     (b) This chapter shall not be construed to make unlawful the activities of persons

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involved in research performed under the auspices of a federal- or state-regulated research

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institution.

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     5-37.2-9. Special licensing.

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     (a) Upon application to the department prior to July 1, 1980, any person who has been an

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instructor in the art of acupuncture and Oriental or acupuncture and East Asian medicine at a

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domestic or foreign college or university satisfactory to the department for a period of two (2)

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years and who has had at least ten (10) years experience, shall be granted a license by the

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department as a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental or doctor of acupuncture and East Asian

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medicine without the necessity of taking an examination.

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     (b) An acupuncturist licensed to practice acupuncture in another jurisdiction may perform

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acupuncture and East Asian medicine while teaching or demonstrating or providing acupuncture

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in connection with teaching or participating in an educational seminar in Rhode Island. Any

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exemption under this subsection shall not exceed sixty (60) days cumulatively in a calendar year.

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     (c) An auricular acupuncture technician must be a qualified individual as defined in § 5-

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37.2-2. Any individual performing auricular acudetox shall not use the title "acupuncuturist",

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"doctor of acupuncture" or "doctor of acupuncture and East Asian medicine", as defined in § 5-

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37.2-2, or otherwise represent himself or herself as an acupuncture professional, and shall not

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perform acupuncture outside of the scope of the auricular acudetox procedure. Applicants for an

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auricular acupuncture technician license shall submit to the department:

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     (i) A complete and legible application form;

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     (ii) Payment of the fees set by the board; and

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     (iii) Evidence of completion of NADA certification training or an equivalent training

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certificate.

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     (d) Nothing in this chapter is intended to limit, interfere with, or prevent a certified

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auricular acupuncture technician from practicing within the scope of their certification.

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     5-37.2-10. Application for licenses -- Fees.

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     An applicant for examination for a license to practice acupuncture and Oriental East

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Asian medicine or any branch of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine shall:

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     (1) Submit an application to the department on forms provided by the department;

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     (2) Submit satisfactory evidence that he or she is twenty-one (21) years or older and

 

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meets the appropriate education requirements;

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     (3) Pay a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54; and

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     (4) Pay any fees required by the department for an investigation of the applicant or for the

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services of a translator, if required, to enable the applicant to take the examination.

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     5-37.2-12. Issuance of licenses to practice acupuncture.

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     The department shall issue a license for the practice of acupuncture and Oriental East

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Asian medicine where the applicant meets the requirements of § 5-37.2-12.1 except as exempted.

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     5-37.2-12.1. Examination requirements and issuance of license.

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     (a) No person shall be licensed as a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian

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medicine unless he or she has passed the examination by the National Certification Commission

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for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or successor entity equivalent, and has completed herbal

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training according to competencies as set by Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and

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Oriental Medicine, or demonstrated that they are qualified by training, experience, or

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certification.

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     (b) No person shall be licensed as a Doctor of Acupuncture unless they have passed the

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examination by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or

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equivalent.

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     (b)(c) Before any applicant is eligible for licensure, he or she shall furnish satisfactory

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proof that he or she:

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     (1) Is a United States citizen or legal alien;

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     (2) Has demonstrated proficiency in the English language;

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     (3) Is at least twenty one (21) years of age;

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     (4) Is of good moral character;

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     (5) Has completed an accredited program of at least thirty-six (36) months and not less

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than twenty-five hundred (2,500) nineteen hundred (1,900) hours of training and has received a

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certificate or diploma from an institute approved by the Accreditation Commission for Schools

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and Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, or equivalent according to the provisions of

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this chapter; provided, that this subdivision does not apply to anyone licensed to practice under

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chapter 37 of this title who is qualified to take and pass the test by the National Commission for

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the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine National Certification Commission for

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Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, or equivalent;

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     (6) Has completed a clinical internship training that is designated as appropriate by the

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National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Accreditation

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Commission for the Schools and Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; and

 

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     (7) Has three (3) two (2) letters of reference from reputable individuals other than

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relatives and at least two (2), one of which are is from a licensed or registered doctors doctor of

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acupuncture and Oriental medicine or doctor of acupuncture and East Asian medicine.

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     5-37.2-12.2. Reciprocal licensing requirements.

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     The health department may, at its discretion, issue a license without examination to as a

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doctor of acupuncture or doctor of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine to a person who

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has been licensed, certified, or formally legally recognized as an acupuncturist in any state or

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territory. if all three (3) of the following conditions are met to its satisfaction:

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     (1) The applicant meets the requirements of practice in the state or territory in which the

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applicant is licensed, certified, or registered as an acupuncturist;

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     (2) The requirements for practice in the state or territory in which the applicant is

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licensed, certified, or registered as an acupuncturist are at least as stringent as those of this state;

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and

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     (3) The state or territory in which the applicant is licensed, certified, or legally recognized

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as an acupuncturist permits a practitioner licensed in this state to practice acupuncture and

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Oriental medicine in that jurisdiction.

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     5-37.2-12.3. Continuing education for acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

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Continuing education for acupuncture and East Asian medicine.

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     The health department shall establish, by regulation, mandatory continuing education

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requirements for a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine licensed in this state,

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including, but not limited to, the following:

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     (1) Each person licensed under this chapter, whether or not residing within this state,

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shall complete forty (40) hours of continuing education within each biennial renewal period,

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except during the initial annual renewal period.

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     (2) Continuing education hours will be accepted by the department for course work that

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have been presented, accepted, or approved by a nationally recognized acupuncture and Oriental

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medicine organization or its local chapter, or any accredited school of acupuncture and Oriental

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medicine.

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     (3) At the time of license renewal, each licensee is required to attest to the fact of having

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complied with the requirements in this section. Course descriptions, proof of attendance, or other

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documentation of completion is retained by the licensee for a minimum of three (3) years and is

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subject to random audit by the department. Failure to produce satisfactory documentation of

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completion upon request by the department constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under the

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provisions of this chapter.

 

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     (4) Each person not obtaining the required number of hours of continuing education may

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have his or her license renewed for just cause, as determined by the department, so long as the

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department requires that the deficient hours of continuing education, and all unpaid fees, are

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made up during the following renewal period in addition to the current continuing education

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requirements for the renewal period. If any doctor of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian

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medicine fails to make up the deficient hours and complete the subsequent renewal period, or

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fails to make up unpaid fees, then his or her license shall not be renewed until all fees are paid

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and all the required hours are completed and documented to the department.

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     5-37.2-14. Recordation and display of licenses -- Annual registration fee -- Penalties

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for failure to pay fee.

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     (a) Every person holding a license authorizing him or her to practice acupuncture and

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Oriental East Asian medicine in this state shall record his or her license with the city or town hall

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in the city or town where his or her office and residence are located. Every licensee upon a

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change of residence or office shall have his or her certificate recorded in the same manner in the

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municipality to which he or she has changed.

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     (b) Every license shall be displayed in the office, place of business, or place of

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employment of the license holder.

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     (c) Every person holding a license shall pay to the department, on or before February 1 of

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each year, the annual registration fee required pursuant to department rules and regulation. If the

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holder of a license fails to pay the registration fee, his or her license shall be suspended. The

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license may be reinstated by payment of the required fee within ninety (90) days after February 1.

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     (d) A license that is suspended for more than three (3) months under the provisions of

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subsection (c) of this section may be canceled by the board after thirty (30) days notice to the

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holder of the license.

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     (e) [Deleted by P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 39, § 11.]

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     5-37.2-15. Suspension, revocation, or refusal of license -- Grounds.

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     The department may either refuse to issue or may suspend or revoke any license for any

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one or any combination of the following causes:

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     (1) Conviction of a felony, conviction of any offense involving moral turpitude, or

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conviction of a violation of any state or federal law regulating the possession, distribution or use

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of any controlled substance as defined in § 21-28-1.02, as shown by a certified copy of record of

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the court;

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     (2) The obtaining of, or any attempt to obtain, a license, or to practice in the profession

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for money or any other thing of value, by fraudulent misrepresentations;

 

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     (3) Gross malpractice;

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     (4) Advertising by means of knowingly false or deceptive statement;

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     (5) Advertising, practicing, or attempting to practice under a name other than one's own;

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     (6) Habitual drunkenness or habitual addiction to the use of a controlled substance as

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defined in § 21-28-1.02;

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     (7) Using any false, fraudulent, or forged statement or document, or engaging in any

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fraudulent, deceitful, dishonest, immoral practice in connection with the licensing requirement of

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this chapter;

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     (8) Sustaining a physical or mental disability that renders further practice dangerous;

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     (9) Engaging in any dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct that may deceive,

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defraud, or harm the public, or that is unbecoming a person licensed to practice under this

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chapter;

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     (10) Using any false or fraudulent statement in connection with the practice of

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acupuncture or any branch of acupuncture;

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     (11) Violating, or attempting to violate, or assisting or abetting the violation of, or

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conspiring to violate, any provision of this chapter;

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     (12) Being adjudicated incompetent or insane;

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     (13) Advertising in an unethical or unprofessional manner;

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     (14) Obtaining a fee or financial benefit for any person by the use of fraudulent diagnosis,

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therapy, or treatment;

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     (15) Willfully disclosing a privileged communication;

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     (16) Failure of a licensee to designate his or her school of practice in the professional use

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of his or her name by the term "doctor of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine";

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     (17) Willful violation of the law relating to the health, safety, or welfare of the public, or

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of the rules and regulations promulgated by the state board of health;

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     (18) Administering, dispensing, or prescribing any controlled substance as defined in §

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21-28-1.02, except for the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease or for relief from suffering;

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and

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     (19) Performing, assisting, or advising in the injection of any liquid silicone substance

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into the human body.

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     5-37.2-18. Reporting vital statistics.

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     Doctors of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine shall observe and be subject to

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all state and municipal regulations relative to reporting all births and deaths in all matters

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pertaining to the public health.

 

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     5-37.2-19. Seminars not in accordance with department regulations prohibited --

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Penalty.

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     (a) No seminar concerning acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine may be

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conducted in this state except in accordance with regulations prescribed by the department for

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bona fide educational seminars.

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     (b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

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     5-37.2-20. Practice without a license a misdemeanor.

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     A person who represents himself or herself as a practitioner of acupuncture and Oriental

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East Asian medicine, or any branch of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine, and who

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engages in the practice of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine, or any branch of

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acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine, in this state without holding a valid license issued

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by the department is guilty of a misdemeanor.

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     5-37.2-21. Injunctive relief.

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     (a) The department may maintain in any court of competent jurisdiction a suit for an

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injunction against any person or persons practicing acupuncture and Oriental East Asian

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medicine, or any branch of acupuncture and Oriental East Asian medicine, without a license.

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     (b) This injunction:

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     (1) May be issued without proof of actual damage sustained by any person, this provision

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being understood to be a preventive as well as a punitive measure.

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     (2) Shall not relieve the person from criminal prosecution for practicing without a license.

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     SECTION 3. Chapter 5-37.2 of the General Laws entitled "The Healing Art of

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Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     5-37.2-24. Meaning of terms in existing laws.

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     When in any law, resolution, document, record, instrument, proceeding, or other place the

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words "Oriental medicine" as applied in this chapter, shall be construed to mean "East Asian

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medicine".

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     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC001826

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - THE HEALING ART OF

ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE - NEW TITLE

***

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     This act would change the title of chapter 5-37.2 and throughout, replacing the words

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"Oriental medicine" with "East Asian medicine" and would allow individuals who are otherwise

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certified, to practice the art of acupuncture and East Asian medicine using Chinese medical

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diagnostic methods.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001826

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