Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day 2024:
Celebrating Whole Health Wellness and Traditional Practices
Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day, celebrated annually on October 24, is a significant event that spotlights the ancient practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine throughout the world. This day is dedicated to enhancing public awareness about the therapeutic benefits of acupuncture and its contribution to overall health and well-being.
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), in collaboration with the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA), the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), the Council of Colleges for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM), and the European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association (ETCMA) has been instrumental in advocating for the acknowledgment and progression of acupuncture and herbal medicine.
As we approach Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (AHM) Day in 2024, we will be uniting with the European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association (ETCMA) to also commemorate World Acupuncture Day on November 16. This day marks the recognition of acupuncture and moxibustion as part of UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, celebrating the global appreciation and growing interest in traditional and complementary medicine practices.
Stay tuned for an exciting announcement regarding the upcoming AHM Day 2024 and World Acupuncture Day activities. We are preparing a series of events and initiatives to celebrate these significant days in the field of acupuncture and herbal medicine. More details will be shared soon, so make sure to keep an eye out for updates on how you can participate and contribute to these global observances. Your involvement and support are what make these days truly special and impactful.
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Federal Advocacy Update
By Molly Ford, Director of Government Relations (NCCAOM)®
The NCCAOM® Advocacy team represents NCCAOM certification, Diplomates, and stakeholders by providing information to promote acupuncture services to state and federal policymakers, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), as well as other stakeholder groups.
Advocacy News
Update on H.R. 3133, the Acupuncture for our Seniors Act
The final year of the 118th Congress (2023-2024) is well underway, and the NCCAOM/ASA advocacy efforts continue to focus on raising awareness of, and support for, H.R. 3133, the Acupuncture for our Seniors Act, on and off Capitol Hill. Even with several months left in 2024, attention has shifted to the November elections and the 119th Congress (2025-2026), but work continues on through Congressional meetings and outreach to organizations supporting H.R. 3133.
We need your help! The NCCAOM and ASA lobbying team invites acupuncturists, students, and patients to take part in virtual or in-person meetings with their U.S. Representatives’ offices. Participating is easy and just requires a simple sign up. or through the QR code below:
External Activity to Promote H.R. 3133
ASA Conference Panel – Arlington, VA
NCCAOM’s Michael Taromina and Molly Ford joined leaders from ACAHM, and ASA in a panel, “The Future of Acupuncture in The US: Integration Thru Collaboration,” during the ASA’s Annual Conference in April to discuss the role the federal effort to obtain Medicare recognition has on the future of the profession. Over 80 state leaders and leaders within the ASA attended this session.
2024 International Congress on Integrative Medicine & Health – Cleveland, OH
In April, NCCAOM’s Mina Larson and Molly Ford, along with NCCAOM Immediate Past Chair, Iman Majd; Olivia Freidman, ASA Chair; and John Yoo ACAHM Chair and CEO of Virginia University of Integrative Medicine participated in a panel to discuss the importance of integrative health organizations developing robust advocacy programs. In addition to raising awareness about H.R. 3133 to integrative health colleagues, the NCCAOM team was able to make a lot of connections in securing data to support H.R. 3133 on Capitol Hill.
Grassroots at your Fingertips
There are many ways to connect with your Congressional Representative to convey your support for H.R. 3133. The NCCAOM advocacy team offers its grassroots software platform to help you, your patients, Senior Citizens, and general supporters of the profession message their U.S. Representatives about H.R. 3133. Simply text any of the following phrases to 52886:
- “Acupuncture” – Acupuncture Campaign
- “Student” – Student Campaign
- “Acupuncture Patient” – Patient Campaign
- “Acupuncture Senior” – Senior Citizen Campaign
- “Acupuncture Ally” – Ally Campaign
After texting 52886, follow the generated link to an email and Twitter message that you can send to your Representatives as is, or modify to provide additional information.
Example: If you’re an acupuncturist, type Acupuncture to 52886, if you’re a student, type Student to 52886, etc.
You can also send any of these letters from your computer.
Medicare-Recognition Background
Obtaining provider status under Medicare would enable acupuncturists to directly bill Medicare for the covered services that they provide to Medicare beneficiaries (generally those 65 and older). This recognition is critical to advancing the acupuncturist profession, as it would grant more individuals access to qualified acupuncturists—and more qualified acupuncturists access to those over 65 years of age. Medicare recognition would also help the profession collect and generate data on the acupuncture benefits, particularly with regard to quality and cost.
CMS just covers acupuncture services for chronic lower back pain (cLBP),but does not recognize acupuncturists as providers of this service. This lack of recognition prevents much of the profession from readily treating Medicare beneficiaries for chronic pain. The resulting barrier inhibits those with the most expertise and training in acupuncture from providing these services.
The NCCAOM and ASA continue to maintain a series of resources to help educate the profession on Medicare recognition and the steps required for Medicare provider status. Read more about how Medicare provider status would affect the profession by visiting the NCCAOM’s Advocacy Page.
The NCCAOM Advocacy Represents You
The NCCAOM advocacy team works tirelessly to advocate for its Diplomates. If there is an issue, challenge, or opportunity you would like to convey to the team, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Read more about the NCCAOM’s advocacy efforts at the NCCAOM Advocacy Page. Please contact the NCCAOM Advocacy team with any questions regarding the NCCAOM’s Advocacy efforts and ways to get involved.
– The NCCAOM Advocacy Team
Recertification vs. Reinstatement: Lesser-Known Facts
By Olga Cox, Chief Operating Officer, NCCAOM®
Over the years, there has been a lot of discussion about the NCCAOM Recertification process and the tools available to Diplomates to facilitate this process. It’s also worth mentioning that NCCAOM provides comprehensive handbooks and other instructional resources to guide Diplomates through the process. In this article we will cover lesser-known facts regarding NCCAOM Certification Renewal and Reinstatement to Active Status.
Professional Development Activity (PDA) points system
One lesser-known aspect of the NCCAOM recertification process is the “Professional Development Activity” (PDA) points system. While many practitioners are aware that they need to earn continuing education credits to maintain their NCCAOM certification, they might not know that these PDA points can be earned through a variety of activities beyond traditional coursework.
For instance, NCCAOM allows Diplomates to earn points through volunteer work, such as serving on a board or committee relevant to the AHM profession, mentoring students or fellow practitioners, and even publishing articles or books related to Acupuncture and Herbal medicine. Additionally, some PDA points can be earned through activities like teaching or lecturing, advocating for legislation, or donation of acupuncture services. This flexible system encourages Diplomates to contribute to the field in diverse ways while maintaining their NCCAOM certification. For a detailed Step-by-Step Recertification process, go to the NCCAOM website at: https://www.nccaom.org/certification/certification-renewal/.
NCCAOM Accrual Period
Active NCCAOM Diplomates must earn a minimum of 60 PDA points during the four-year period immediately preceding the expiration date of their certification (accrual period). NCCAOM Diplomates are responsible for ensuring all PDA/CEU credits completed during the recertification cycle have been reported to their Recertification Transcript.
The CPR Course Requirements for NCCAOM Recertification
- Diplomates have the option to choose between an online or face-to-face CPR course.
- A minimum of a 4-hour CPR course taken within the 4-year recertification cycle is acceptable. One CPR course is sufficient as long as the course completion date falls within the 4-year recertification cycle.
- The course must be a minimum of a 4-hour online course or a face-to-face CPR course, based on the Diplomate’s preference.
CE Banking is indeed a service that allows Diplomates to store and track their continuing education activities within their NCCAOM Certification Account. It simplifies the submission of CE credits during recertification by having PDA Points reported by the PDA Provider directly to the Diplomate’s Recertification Transcript. This creates a centralized repository of continuing education that is easily accessible for recertification purposes. Additionally, certificates of completion for PDA approved courses are uploaded to the Diplomates’ “My Learning” section for state license renewal purposes. However, it’s important to note that to guarantee proper CE Banking, all NCCAOM Diplomates must make sure their First and Last name as well as the NCCAOM ID number entered during the course registration process are the same as reflected in their NCCAOM certification account.
In addition, Diplomates can report courses that are not directly approved by the NCCAOM manually.
For further details, you may refer to the Diplomate Newsletter article – Recert & CE Banking 7-27-2020. These documents provide comprehensive information on the CE Banking process and its benefits for Diplomates.
Reinstatement to Active Status option
Another lesser-known fact is that NCCAOM also offers a Reinstatement to Active Status option. If a Diplomate allows their NCCAOM certification to expire, it will enter a Lapsed status. Practitioners in Lapsed status have up to three years after their NCCAOM Certification expiration date to renew their certification before it is permanently terminated. To reinstate a terminated certification, practitioners may use the “Reinstatement to Active Status” option. With this option, one must complete the required number of Professional Development Activity (PDA) points, which are determined based on the specific certification expiration date. Practitioners can use the Reinstatement calculator available on the NCCAOM website and in their Certification Account to determine the exact number of PDA points required.
The Reinstatement to Active Status process includes submitting a Reinstatement application and fulfilling additional requirements, such as completing an online Safety Evaluation, passing an online Final Assessment, and undergoing a background screening. For the detailed Step-by-Step Reinstatement process, go to the NCCAOM website at: https://www.nccaom.org/certification/reinstatement-active-status/. The reinstatement process ensures that practitioners meet current standards and are prepared to resume their professional practice.
The Reinstatement to Active Status is a very rigorous process, that is why NCCAOM Certified Diplomates are encouraged to maintain their NCCAOM certification via regular Recertification!
NCCAOM Job Analysis Survey 2024:
A Step Towards Enhanced Professional Standards
By Mina Larson, M.S., MBA, CAE, Chief Executive Officer (NCCAOM)®
The acupuncture and herbal medicine profession, like most health care professions, requires standardization across the board (consistency, processes and procedures) on a national level. As part of this required standardization and accreditation requirements, the NCCAOM conducts a Job Analysis (JA) survey every 5-7 years. This survey is a part of NCCAOM’s JA initiative to update the exam content for entry-to-practice Acupuncturists. The data from the demographic portion of the survey also helps with bringing greater recognition to the Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine profession as this type of data is needed by federal agencies for recognition of Acupuncturists.
The NCCAOM conducted its Job Analysis Survey from March 13 to May 5, 2024. The survey was sent to over 33,000 practitioners, comprised of both NCCAOM Certified Diplomates and state-licensed acupuncturists. This extensive distribution helped the NCCAOM gather valuable insights from a diverse group of professionals within the field. All acupuncturists on the distribution list received a unique survey link to complete the survey, which allowed participants to complete the survey during multiple sessions. Acupuncturists who did not receive the email with survey link were prompted to submit their information through a request form on the NCCAOM website.
Methodology and Outreach. NCCAOM used several marketing strategies to increase survey participation:
- email reminders
- social media campaigns to promote the survey.
- weekly announcements in Acupuncture Today
- JA survey participation was encouraged during NCCAOM’s Town Hall meetings in March and April promoting the importance of the JTA and completing the survey.
Incentives and Engagement To encourage participation. All survey participants who completed the survey received three (3) NCCAOM Professional Development Activity (PDA) points for each exam content section in the survey. The total number of PDA points awarded was based on the total number of content sections completed. The completion of all four exam content sections resulted in 12 PDA points.
The NCCAOM also conducted six raffle drawings, from May 16 to June 20, 2024, for various prizes to include Apple Smart Watch, Apple iPad Mini, Bose earbuds, and free NCCAOM recertifications.
Impact and Future Directions: Over 5,000 practitioners participated, a record-breaking number, contributing valuable insights that will influence the development of new exam questions and the exam blueprint.
The JA Survey 2024 is more than just a tool for exam maintenance; it’s a commitment to the continuous improvement of the profession. The results of the 2024 Job Analysis will be used to refine certification exams and maintain high standards for professional practice. This process is essential for upholding the credibility and validity of NCCAOM certifications and ensuring they meet the needs of both practitioners and patients. The data from the 2024 survey results have already been instrumental in providing updated data to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for Acupuncturists Standard Occupational Classification Code.
Thank You for Your Participation!
The NCCAOM would like to express its sincere gratitude to all acupuncturists who participated in the 2024 Job Analysis Survey. Your input was vital for ensuring the relevance and validity of our certification exams and standards. By completing the survey, you have contributed to the advancement of the profession and the protection of the public. We appreciate your time, effort, and dedication to this important project.
We also want to thank all the organizations and individuals who helped us promote the survey and encourage participation. Your support was invaluable for reaching a large and diverse sample of practitioners across the country.
We look forward to sharing the results of the 2024 Job Analysis Survey with you in the near future. Stay tuned for more updates and information on our website, newsletter, and social media channels.
Thank you again for being part of this important endeavor!
- First Nationwide database for disciplinary action in healthcare.
- Enhances the profession’s credibility by offering acupuncturists and the public transparent and precise disciplinary records.
- Ensures that states have access to precise disciplinary records, preventing acupuncturists from avoiding discipline by relocating to continue their practice, which could put the public at greater risk.
- To access the database, Click Here
NCCAOM Volunteer Spotlight: Amy Sear, A.P., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®
The NCCAOM has had the privilege of working with dedicated NCCAOM volunteers who have served the organization for many years in varying capacities and on a multitude of committees, taskforces, panels or as an NCCAOM Board Commissioner. Their work often goes unseen by the public, but they are an integral part of our organization. In this newsletter we are featuring one of these dedicated and valued volunteers, Amy Sear, A.P., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist who has been serving on various NCCAOM committees and taskforces for many years and currently serves on the Recertification/PDA Panel for 2024.
Introduction
Amy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University, and Masters level training in Oriental Medicine (the combination of Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Chinese Food Therapy/Nutrition) from the Acupuncture Massage College in Miami, FL. She is Nationally Board Certified in Oriental Medicine, which is the combined practice of: Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Nutrition.
Licensed since 1997, she has worked with numerous experts in excellent Oncology care since 2002. Besides Traditional Chinese Medicine, she has studied a vast array of “Natural” medical modalities and can answer questions on a wide variety of topics.
Amy is the Past President of the Florida State Oriental Medical Association (FSOMA), a 500+ member professional association for Oriental Medical practitioners in Florida. She is an active member of FSOMA and the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO). She is a frequent lecturer on Integrative Medicine (the utilization of the best of Eastern and Western Medicine, combined), and is considered a specialist and well recognized expert in Integrative Oncology, especially relating to Breast Cancer. Amy teaches at two schools of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Florida, and a frequent presenter of Continuing Education for the Chinese Medicine professional community.
In this interview, she shares her story, insights, and surprises about her volunteer work and her profession.
Question: What motivated you to begin work as a volunteer for the NCCAOM all those years ago?
Answer: I have worn many hats over the years. As President of the Florida State Oriental Medicine Association (FSOMA), back in 2005, one of the things I came to know is that too many people did not know the various people or organizations that did this versus that, and the various roles and missions of each of them. These organizations, which affect all AHM practitioners are often mixed up by us, the practitioners. So, during the planning of our conference that year, I decided to invite someone from the State Board of Acupuncture staff and the NCCAOM to introduce themselves and tell everyone what that organization did, how it supported and helped us in our respective practices, and their role and vision for the future of the profession. I learned so much from the person that came from the NCCAOM and was so impressed with all that the NCCAOM was doing. I saw them as a great advocate and the prime group to increase and advance the professional attributes I felt no one else was really advocating or promoting. Such things as safety, ethics, integrity, communication, documentation, professional standards above and beyond clinical skills.
So, I stayed in touch with them for some projects of FSOMA and several others I was working on myself. I then offered to help in any way I could. I don’t even remember the first committee or panel I started on. But over the years I have been a volunteer in projects relating to ethics, safety, re-certification, professional development (PDA’s), the Job Task Analysis, and item writing. Currently I serve on the Recertification Panel.
Question: What has kept you so passionate about your continued involvement with the NCCAOM?
Answer: I continue to be impressed with the organizational skills, integrity and long-range vision evident in all the projects I have participated in. Most of my peers think of them as just those folks that write and administer exams, and don’t realize that the exams are just a tool, what is technically called an instrument, a necessary aspect of standards and validating competence. The NCCAOM is so much more than those tests. For years they were the only national voice or vision for our profession. The NCCAOM has played a huge role in getting licensure in many states and assisting the growth of Practice Acts in many states. They were the group that identified how critical it was for acupuncture to be recognized by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and then did the work and made it happen, a long multiyear project for which we have them to thank. They are a steadying force nationwide, working to unify the profession across so many diverse states, to gain acceptance and utilization on the broad level we all need, and push us forward as practitioners with great integrity, and ethical members of the national healthcare system.
Question: What are the biggest changes that you have seen in the profession throughout your years of serving?
Answer: Students entering schools are getting younger and younger, some even fresh out of college, rather than entering as a second career student. I see much more diversity of individuals entering schools, graduating and excelling in practice. I have unfortunately seen the number of schools reducing over time, and I see this particularly lately. We have some wonderful schools that have special niche skills and traditions, and they have challenges.
Question: What challenges do you see in recertification and professional development for practitioners?
Answer: I actually don’t see any. I think that practitioners have an abundance of choices of activities for which they can earn the credits they need and learn and advance along the way. There is a plethora of options and categories. Maybe too many choices. I guess maybe a challenge of sorts is that the NCCAOM has so many categories and types of activities you can do and earn credits, that it might sometimes seem confusing or complicated. My wish is that more folks would seek and do courses on professional development, not just clinical skills. Something I think our industry needs to be stronger in – overall – is ethics, safety, communication and medical records. At the heart of most complaints, lawsuits, and discipline cases, are one or more of those categories mentioned above, and most are often avoidable with the right information and implementation. We all benefit from that.
Question: What do you wish other people knew about the fields of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine?
Answer: I wish more people in the general public would be aware of how gentle and nurturing so many of us practitioners are, and how we work to help them feel so comfortable and relaxed, and that the treatments are not scary, weird, or painful. I wish folks knew how long and hard we have studied, that we are accountable and insured, that we can be one more member of their healthcare team and help them in ways they maybe have never imagined.
Question: Any closing thoughts or wisdom to share?
Answer: Thank you NCCAOM for being a steady rock for our profession, for all your support and guidance over the years. and for helping us move forward. Please keep advocating for us and helping us grow and excel.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of the
NCCAOM Diplomate E-News You Can Use!