ADVOCACY TOOLKIT
NCCAOM Advocacy works to engage in direct advocacy as well as to support Diplomates in their own advocacy and grassroots efforts. The NCCAOM Advocacy team has developed a toolkit of documents that can be used to support both our state and federal-level advocacy efforts. The toolkit will be the go-to resource for Diplomates who want to serve as advocates in their areas for the profession and NCCAOM certification, and will continue to grow and evolve as NCCAOM highlights new areas of focus for advocacy. The documents in this toolkit provide curated, targeted information about acupuncture, the NCCAOM and our priorities and goals for expanding access and awareness and serving our Diplomates.
Included in the Package
1.
This document provides a succinct, informative overview of the practice of acupuncture and its history. Lawmakers and staff that are unfamiliar with acupuncture, or who may have outdated or inaccurate notions about the practice, can rely on this document as a quick summary of what our Diplomates do.
To download this document, click here
2.
This document provides an overview of the NCCAOM, its mission, and its history. It also details the certification process and the importance of the rigorous testing and evaluation requirements that ensure the gold-standard competency of NCCAOM Board-Certified Acupuncturists.
To download this document click here
3.
This white paper details how acupuncture, performed by qualified, competent, and certified practitioners, can help address the opioid crisis. It outlines the numerous recommendations by federal bodies and national organizations encouraging the expansion of access to non-pharmacological pain management modalities, and details some of the key evidence supporting acupuncture as a potential solution.
To download this document click here
4.
This document outlines the use of acupuncture and other integrative health modalities throughout the Veterans Health Administration, specifically focusing on the occupational classification requiring VHA-employed acupuncturists to hold NCCAOM certification. The VHA standard can serve as an important model to federal and state bodies looking to determine appropriate clinician requirements as acupuncture continues to be recognized as an essential health care service.
To download this document click here
5.
On July 29, 2021, U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-California) introduced H.R. 4803, the Acupuncture for our Seniors Act. H.R. 4803 would instruct the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to recognize qualified acupuncturists as Medicare providers. Medicare recognition would enable eligible acupuncturists to provide covered services to Medicare beneficiaries (generally those 65+) without supervision and bill Medicare directly for these services.
To download the H.R. 4803 infographic, click here.
To download the H.R. 4803 Fact Sheet, click here.
To download the H.R. 4803 Fact Sheet in Chinese, click here.