NCCAOM Diplomate E-News You Can Use: Winter 2022

• Chair and CEO Message
• Advocacy Update: Winter 2022
• Code of Ethics Update 2022
• Find a Practitioner: Benefit of Being an NCCAOM Board-Certified Diplomate
• Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day 2022 Recap
• World Acupuncture Awareness Day Recap
• NCCAOM Volunteer Spotlight:
  Ruth Dalphin, M.M., C.A., Dipl. A.B.T., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)^®
  

The NCCAOM Board of Commissioners and staff share our warmest wishes for a Holiday Season filled with Joy and a New Year of Peace and Prosperity. As we close out 2022, we wish to thank all our dedicated volunteers who contributed to another year of milestones and achievements.  The last month of 2022 remains a busy time for the NCCAOM, as we continue serving our valued Diplomates. Reflecting on 2022, a year that marked ACAHM, CCAHM and NCCAOM’s 40th anniversary, we have seen great progress and accomplishments in promoting our Diplomates and collaborating with organizations such as the ASA  to advance our profession. You can read about our regular advocacy updates such as Medicare grassroots training and guidance to our Board-Certified Acupuncturists (BCA), and the profession, in the National Advocacy section of our website. With the 40^th anniversary of the AHM leadership organizations, we captured the theme perfectly with the slogan, Celebrating our Past, Embracing our Future.

This past year the organization celebrated the selection of Dr. Steven L. Rosenblatt, M.D., PhD, Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)^®, L.Ac., to the NCCAOM Board of Commissioners (BOC). While we embrace the future with the new faces, it is important to celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of our retiring commissioner:  Zonglan Xu, MD (China), Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)^® (NCCAOM Board Commissioners 2011-2022) and staff member: Jennifer Nemeth M.Ed, NCCAOM Director of Education and Professional Development, who will be retiring after more than 16 years of service at NCCAOM. The NCCAOM and the AHM profession owe a great debt of gratitude to Zonglan and Jennifer for their many contributions and years of service.

This year was a pivotal year for the NCCAOM, as all our certification programs (Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology and Oriental Medicine) were granted reaccreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for a period of five years through August 30, 2027. NCCA accreditation is another demonstration that NCCAOM’s certification programs have received impartial, third-party validation and also met recognized national and international credentialing industry standards for the development, implementation, and maintenance of certification programs. The public and state regulators can depend on this accreditation and feel confident that an NCCAOM Board-Certified practitioner has met nationally recognized standards of competency and safety in acupuncture and Herbal medicine.

As part of our diligent review and quality control of our policies and procedures, the Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee under the leadership of Chair Michael Taromina, Esq.,  updated the NCCAOM Code of Ethics and Grounds for Disciplinary Review, which was unveiled to the public at the ASA-NCCAOM Town Hall on October 26, 2022. The PEDC thanks all individuals who provided their input and suggested revisions to the Code of Ethics via the public comment period.

Continuing in the spirit of embracing the future the NCCAOM and ASA Advocacy Team secured bipartisan support for bill HR 4803: Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act co-sponsored by U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania), NCCAOM and ASA. The NCCAOM and ASA leadership announced this exciting development with a Town Hall meeting providing an updated roadmap for HR 4803 and the importance of Medicare coverage for licensed acupuncturists.

We remain confident that the need for our medicine will continue to grow during this challenging time and that NCCAOM Board Certified Diplomates will continue to be sought after by the thousands of patients that seek acupuncture services. Updating the Code of Ethics and other organizational policies and procedures will ensure the NCCAOM is prepared to embrace our future, provide advocacy, stability, and guidance for our 20,000 plus Diplomates and ensure the protection of the public.

During the festive Holiday season, the NCCAOM Board of Commissioners and staff are grateful to all of the many talented and committed volunteers who made the accomplishments of 2022 possible. The hard work and diligence of the NCCAOM leadership and staff will help guide the ongoing development of our organizational strategy and goals as well as our continued commitment to you as our valued Diplomate. We wish you and your loved ones a pleasant and peaceful Holiday season.

Iman Majd, MD, MS, EAMP/L.Ac, Dip. ABFM, ABoIM, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)^®, DABMA, ABIHM, NCCAOM Board Chair

Mina Larson, MS, MBA, CAE, NCCAOM CEO

Please be advised that the NCCAOM offices will be closed for a holiday break starting Friday, December 23, 2022, at 1:00 PM EST.
Our offices will reopen at 9 AM EST on January 3, 2023. If you need assistance from our staff please contact us as soon as possible.

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By Molly Giammarco, Senior Manager, Policy & Government Relations

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

Support for H.R. 4803: A Year in Review

The NCCAOM, in partnership with the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA), wrapped up a successful year of promoting H.R. 4803, the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act, within the U.S. House of Representatives, the acupuncture profession, patient communities, and the integrative health networks.

The ASA/NCCAOM advocacy efforts established H.R. 4803 as bipartisan—a critical step for a bill’s viability—by securing Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s (R-PA) support, raising awareness among the acupuncture profession of Medicare-recognition efforts, and equipping the acupuncture community and its allies to help promote the bill with their Congressional representatives, among colleagues, and with their patients.

The ASA/NCCAOM 2022 Summer Push brought acupuncturists together from across the country to meet remotely with their Representatives’ D.C. offices about H.R. 4803 and to raise awareness of the evidence base for acupuncture. To keep the profession updated on advocacy efforts, the ASA and the NCCAOM launched a monthly newsletter that included bill updates, reports on Congressional activity, and opportunities for acupuncturists to get involved in advocating for the profession. The ASA and the NCCAOM also enabled the profession and its allies to contact their U.S. Representatives’ offices and Twitter accounts via a quick text.

A Look Ahead

The end of 2022 marks the close of the 117^th Congress (2021-2022). All bills that have not yet been passed will expire when Congress officially adjourns the 117^th Congress in late December. Early in 2023, Congressional champions will re-introduce many of these bills for consideration in the 118^th Congress (2023-2024). These bills will receive a new bill number and will again be referred to their committees of jurisdiction.

The Acupuncture for our Seniors Act, known today as H.R. 4803 will be reintroduced in the 118^th Congress with a different bill number. The ASA and the NCCAOM advocacy team are working closely with Rep. Judy Chu’s staff on the Acupuncture for our Seniors Act’s re-introduction.

The goal is to hit the ground running in early 2023 to enable as much time as possible in the 118^th Congress to advance the bill. To help promote this legislation in the 118^th Congress, the ASA and the NCCAOM will again look to the profession. Look for more information from the NCCAOM and the ASA about the Acupuncture for our Seniors Act and how Diplomates can get involved in early 2023.

A big thank you to all Diplomates who participated, encouraged their colleagues to participate, and told their stories to their Representatives’ offices about H.R. 4803 during the 117^th Congress. Contact the NCCAOM advocacy team [email protected] to learn more about getting involved in 2023.

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 providing cLBP services to Medicare beneficiaries. 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 and ASA Advocacy Team Represents You

The NCCAOM and ASA advocacy team works tirelessly to advocate for its Diplomates—you. 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

The cornerstone of the NCCAOM’s commitment to ethical business practices and professional conduct is the NCCAOM Code of Ethics. Every NCCAOM Diplomate and applicant pledges to abide by the NCCAOM^® Code of Ethics standards and procedures as a condition of NCCAOM certification and certification maintenance.

The Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (PEDC) began its work to update the Code of Ethics during the summer of 2021 and placed a first draft of the updated documents on the NCCAOM website for a 30-day period of public comment on September 1, 2021. Upon reviewing the approximately 400 comments made by Diplomates and NCCAOM community members at the end of this public comment period, the PEDC decided to conduct more research.

The Code of Ethics and Grounds for Professional Discipline have been updated in response to public comments for clarity, inclusivity, enforceability in court, and are reflective of NCCAOM’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (as adopted in the DEI Statement).

The updated Code of Ethics is not meant to expand or codify enforcement measures with respect to diversity and cultural mindfulness. Rather the update comes in response to the serious and valid concerns received via public feedback and internal conversations. These additions were made so the Code of Ethics better reflects NCCAOM’s commitment to ensuring the public safety of everyone our Diplomates interact within the work they do.

To provide more clear avenues for our Diplomates to understand their role in upholding and adhering to the standards set by the updated Code of Ethics, the Grounds for Professional Discipline has also been updated as it is the mechanism to codify the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Updated Code of Ethics

Updated Grounds for Professional Discipline

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By Olga Cox, Chief Operations Officer

Background: NCCAOM Certified Diplomates are the heart and pride of the organization. To recognize and celebrate our valued NCCAOM Diplomates, we spend countless hours developing new benefit programs, drafting communication campaigns, and planning events to nurture and grow those invaluable relationships.

To name a few, since 2019, the NCCAOM has removed unnecessary restrictions by developing and implementing a new Reinstatement Route for former Diplomates in terminated status; simplified the NCCAOM Recertification Process for Certified Diplomates by introducing a New CE Banking Process; and introduced Digital Badging for Diplomates and PDA Providers to provide them with additional marketing opportunities for their hard-earned credentials.

However, we are not stopping there. The NCCAOM is getting ready to introduce a new and enhanced Find A Practitioner Directory (FAP) in January 2023. The Find A Practitioner Directory (FAP) is a voluntary benefit available to all NCCAOM Diplomates, as long as they are certified. This type of searchable, digitized list allows anyone (patients, public, other healthcare professionals, regulatory agencies, and third-party payors) to review practitioners who are nationally Board-Certified, find qualified professionals in the industry and refer patients to one another.

While those are reason enough, the FAP directory provides a number of advantages, including:

• FAP directory helps to expand acupuncture businesses. When certified Diplomates can find one another easily, this can also serve as a source for referrals.
• FAP directory boosts your professional reputation. This type of online directory gives Diplomates the opportunity to promote a growing list of qualified practitioners. As aforementioned above, a public directory offers the opportunity to highlight or feature Diplomates’ achievements and credentials.
• FAP directory adds to the Diplomate’s digital footprint. A public list of certified Diplomates earns prominent web traffic from a number of other sites. Let’s say that someone searches for Jane Smith, who happens to be one of NCCAOM’s Certified Diplomates. The FAP directory listing with Jane’s profile will most likely appear in the list of search results. This kind of additional traffic, especially when compounded with over hundreds or thousands of certified Diplomates, is beneficial to both: the FAP and the Diplomate’s name.

Diplomates can opt-in or opt-out of FAP listing at any time by logging in to their NCCAOM certification account and clicking on the “Update Profile” link in the left sidebar. On the next page, at the bottom of the screen, there is a “FAP Preference” option that can easily be changed.

State of the Profession:
Where Do We Go from Here?

All Licensed Acupuncturists are Encouraged to Attend

Town Hall Overview:

The NCCAOM and ASA will co-host a virtual Town Hall meeting.

Speaker:

Olivia Hsu Friedman, DACM, Dipl.OM (NCCAOM)^® , ASA Chair

Looking forward to seeing you!

Register Here

*One (1) PDA/CEU point is available only for attending live session(s) of Town Hall Meetings*.

All Meetings will be recorded and posted to the NCCAOM and ASA websites.

FAP Enhancement: It is a Diplomate’s choice to provide all information included in the enhanced directory listing. To enhance their directory listing, Diplomates will be able to:

1. Login to their NCCAOM certification account at: www.cert.nccaom.org
2. Click the “Diplomate Benefits” orange button at the top of the profile window.
3. On the next screen, click on the “FAP Settings” icon.
4. FAP settings will allow Diplomates to:
   • • Make sure their FAP primary address, website, and phone numbers are listed correctly. If not, the primary FAP address can be edited only in the Diplomate’s certification account.
     • Add two (2) additional business practice locations for a total of three (3) locations.
     • Upload a profile image
     • Upload up to 5 office images
     • Add “About me section”
     • Add the “Health conditions treated” section
     • Add “Languages spoken”
     • Make sure the “My Education” section is listed correctly (this information is displayed from Diplomate’s certification account. If information is missing, contact [email protected].
     • Make sure their “Diplomate Credentials” are listed correctly.

Stay tuned for a separate announcement about the NCCAOM enhanced FAP directory available in January 2023.

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By Chris Minar Manager, Marketing and Communications

Monday, October 24^th, 2022, marked the 20^th annual Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day. This year marked two special occasions. The 40^th anniversary of the CCAHM, ACAHM, and NCCAOM in the United States, and the 20^th anniversary of AHM Day. To celebrate those milestones the NCCAOM  partnered with the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA), the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), and the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM). These four pillar organizations in the AHM profession combined forces to honor our profession’s founding practitioners for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day 2022.

To honor our profession’s founding practitioners and embrace our future, it is ever more important to encourage research and educate the public about what the AHM profession can do to treat the millions of Americans suffering from pain, addiction, and many other ailments.  Acupuncturists have been willing to look within so that you may speak and teach and heal from a place of compassion and understanding. That philosophy has helped to increase access so that anyone seeking treatment shall be able to find it.

AHM Day is a vehicle by which all acupuncture practitioners have a powerful voice. AHM Practitioners expressed their appreciation and excitement for the future through the creativity of the AHM Day celebrations. These AHM Day celebrations showed the world your strength, resiliency, and healing power. Through the events of AHM Day, YOU celebrated our past and embraced our future. This year’s theme was inspirational stories of advocacy for our profession.  We hosted a 1-hour webinar highlighting the work of our senior practitioners and teachers who paved the way for the growth of this medicine and the profession in the U.S.

“Consumer use of acupuncture and herbal medicine has increased significantly since NCCAOM was established 40 years ago,” said Mina Larson, M.S., MBA, CEO of NCCAOM. “We are so delighted to celebrate this milestone year while continuing to provide greater access through our collaborative Medicare initiative. In honor of AHM Day, patients should ensure that the practitioner they visit is properly trained and is NCCAOM Board-Certified.”

ASA-NCCAOM Town Hall

40^th Anniversary Reflection Photo Drive

State and Local Proclamations

AHM Day Events

AHM Testimonials

AHM Day Marketing Kit

This Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day we collectively embraced safety, and diversity, and fought for equality and inclusivity – our holistic medicine embraces the wholeness of all beings. The events and celebrations of AHM Day 2022 were a great success. Thank you to all who helped celebrate Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day 2022.

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By Dr. Aram Akopyan M.D. L.Ac. Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)^®, MATCM MSCS,
Director of Communications  European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association (ETCMA)

This November 16th, there was a concerted effort by the major associations and professional organizations around the world representing TCM and Acupuncture to commemorate and celebrate World Acupuncture Awareness Day. From New Zealand, and Australia to the United States and Canada, from the European Union and Britain to South Africa and the Middle East, a united campaign promoted Acupuncture and TCM via social media and the press.

Why is this important to you? Our profession is in a transitional state. In many countries, including the United States, through the dedicated and concerted efforts of organizations such as the NCCAOM, we have made great strides in establishing and validating the effectiveness of our profession. The World Health Organization not only recognizes our medicine as an effective component of world health but has created specific ICD diagnostic and therapeutic codes dedicated to Traditional Medicine. This progress has caught the attention of other healthcare and affiliated professions and they are eager to co-opt our techniques and modalities for their own benefit. From Physical Therapists to Personal trainers, from Massage therapists to Nurses, all have recognized the potential of our profession to enhance and expand their service offerings. This poses a real and tangible threat to our profession and to your careers.

To that end, a global effort is underway involving some fifty (50) major professional organizations and associations to increase visibility, improve recognition and create a worldwide movement to cement TCM as belonging firmly in our own purview. The commemoration of November 16th as World Acupuncture Awareness Day is one of the efforts to support this action. In November 2010 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed Acupuncture and moxibustion in the list of intangible human cultural heritage. As the world gets more and more integrated, our profession needs to be prepared for a borderless global representation with such programs as unified global educational standards, international accreditation programs, and well-established public awareness campaigns.

It falls upon each of us to participate in this effort and contribute to the education and promotion of our profession, united and in One Voice. To learn more about how you can participate visit, www.Idoacupuncture.com where you will find tips, tools, news, and resources.

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Coordinated by Melissa Dow Manager, Volunteer Development and Special Projects

Some of NCCAOM’s volunteers have served the organization for many years in varying capacities, on various committees, taskforces or 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, Ruth Dalphin.

Ruth Dalphin has been a long-time serving volunteer for NCCAOM. Ruth first became involved with the NCCAOM as a Diplomate of Asian Body Therapy (ABT). She served on the NCCAOM Board of Commissioners (BOC) 2002-2007, and as a member of several committees. Her experience also includes time as the Chair of the ABT Exam Development Committee (EDC). Currently Ruth is a Dipl. Ac. and Chair of Acupuncture and Point Location EDC.

Ruth’s impressive achievements include being a Certified Instructor, former board member, and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA). She is also a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, (Yoga Alliance).

Ruth’s professional ventures currently include being an acupuncture practitioner and director of Associates for Asian Healing Arts in Marlton, NJ. She was the co-founder and director of Associates for Creative Wellness and the School of Asian Healing Arts from 1985-2001.  She has practiced and taught yoga, meditation, whole foods cooking, shiatsu and various wellness programs for over 20 years and at present teaches yoga and meditation live and on zoom.

Her interviews and articles have appeared in several national publications, most recently Natural Health,  Total Health, and Longevity and Pulse. Currently, Ruth serves as a Chair of the Acupuncture and Point Location EDC.

What motivated you to apply as a volunteer for the NCCAOM all those years ago?

What kept you coming back as a volunteer?

How have you observed growth in the NCCAOM as an organization throughout your years of serving?

As you have served on the Board of Commissioners and committees since, I believe, 2002. What is your fondest memory of your service?

What do you wish other people knew about the fields of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine?

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

What do you do when you’re not working?

Anything else you’d like to share?

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