Atten: Martin Herbkersman, Pres AAAOM re: letter to NCCAM: acupuncturists not on board

[Guest guest]

Dear Martin Herkersman,

 

I am writing to thank you for your letter to NCCAM (National Ctr for

Complementary & Alt Med) regarding its recent appointments. (pasted below my

signature for reference: scroll down). You speak from the hearts of all of

the LAc's you represent in calling for a correction of their recent error

of including no LAc's in the recent appointments to the board which oversees

NCCAM research in the field of acupuncture. Our field is one of the areas

of alt med the American public is most interesting in pursuing and learning

more about. As you pointed out, it is indeed important to have several LAcs

on the board. I became alarmed when learning that NCCAM board member Ted

Kaptchuk's term of service is up next year, and the only other so called

representative of our field is the newly appointed Lupo Carlota, an MD who

has only completed a 5 day course in acupuncture, yet misrepresents his

credentials as having earned a Dipl. Ac. from NCCAOM. Of course he should

be replaced by a LAc, as you have called for. I can not imagine why NCCAM

would not see the necessity of having several LAc's on thier board when our

field is one of the largest and fully credentialed (read credible) of the

various types of alt med NCCAM represents.

 

I am wondering what we can do as individuals to support and back your

call to NCCAM to correct this error of board appointees. Perhaps a petition

or emails could be sent. I was not able to find your letter on the AAAOM

website, and recommend you place it in a prominent spot so more folks will

become aware of this important issue facing our profession.

 

Political actions like this is why I support AAAOM with my professional

membership. After reading your letter in Acupuncture Today, I went to the

AAAOM website to check my membership status to be sure I was up to date, but

could not find a way to do this. I also recommend correcting this problem

on the website, as well.

 

Thank you for your commitment to our profession, and for addressing this

important issue on our behalf.

 

With heartfelt appreciation,

 

Kath Bartlett

 

--

 

Oriental Medicine

Experienced, Dedicated, Effective

 

Flying Dragon Liniment:

Effective pain relief for muscles & joints

Formulated by Kath Bartlett, Traditional Chinese Herbalist

Available at Asheville Center for , or web order at:

https://www.kamwo.com/shop/product.php?productid=17442 & cat=0 & page=1

 

 

Asheville Center For

70 Woodfin Place, Suite West Wing Two

Asheville, NC 28801 828.258.2777

kbartlett

www.AcupunctureAsheville.com <http://www.acupunctureasheville.com/>

 

 

 

February 15, 2008

 

Secretary Michael O. Leavitt info

 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Via U. S. Mail

 

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.

 

Washington, D.C. 20201

 

Secretary Leavitt:

 

I am writing you on behalf of the American Association of Acupuncture and

Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) which is the national association representing

professional acupuncturists in America. There are more than 20,000 fully

trained and licensed professional providers of acupuncture and Oriental

medicine (AOM) in the United States.

 

I would like to raise two concerns at this juncture. The first is the

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's (NCCAM)

compliance with federal requirements regarding representation of

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) providers on its National

Advisory Council, and more specifically, adequate and appropriate

representation for acupuncturists. The second is the appointment to the

NCCAM of an individual who has published credentials we have been unable to

verify.

 

NCCAM's National Advisory Council is required to have nine members who are

licensed in complementary or alternative medicine. There is currently one

licensed acupuncturist on the Council (Dr. Ted Kaptchuk), and his term will

expire next year. The work of the Council is critical in guiding the

research priorities of complementary and alternative medicine in the U.S. As

such, the American public deserves to have research advisors who are

qualified subject-matter experts presiding over research that can affect the

quality of, and access to, acupuncture care. The AAAOM offers its assistance

in creating a solution for full compliance by the NCCAM.

 

Secondly, it has come to my attention that Dr. Lupo Carlota has been

appointed to the NCCAM Advisory Council. Dr. Carlota is a physician who

markets a 5-day training program to other physicians that he calls " Meridian

Regulatory Acupuncture " . The AAAOM does not consider short-course trained

individuals to be qualified representatives of the profession. Dr. Carlota

is not a licensed acupuncturist and, although he lists his credentials as

" DiplAc, " we have verified that he is not certified by the National

Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

This is a misrepresentation of his qualifications. I respectfully request

that you reconsider this appointment, given that he does not adequately

represent CAM work in the field of acupuncture.

 

The AAAOM supports the work of the National Advisory Council and NCCAM as we

consider acupuncture research to be vital to the American healthcare

landscape. Therefore, I am requesting that at least two licensed and

nationally certified acupuncturists be appointed to the NCCAM Advisory

Council. I would be pleased to send you a list of qualified persons to be

considered for appointment.

 

Sincerely,

 

Martin Herbkersman, MTOM, DAc

 

President, AAAOM