Acupuncture needling....officially known as dry needling as precedence in CA

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NGAOM.org: National Standard Needling Therapy, © Dec 2009 Priebe

The California Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) is the

national standard for Chinese “Needling Therapy†known as acupuncture or dry

needling in the Occidental west.

 

Effective August 18, 2009, the California Acupuncture Medical Treatment

Guidelines, Labor Code Section 9792.24.1 heretofore supersedes the American

College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, (ACOEM) Practice

Guidelines, 2nd Edition national standard. This precedence change is based on

the

combined cumulative efforts by the Council of Acupuncture and Oriental

Medicine Associations (CAOMA) and in conjunction with a six year effort by the

National Guild of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NGAOM.org).

The Acupuncture Medical Treatment Guidelines are the newly established

national standard, notably:

Presumptively correct on the issue of extent and scope of medical

treatment and diagnostic services. ‘Scientifically and evidenced-based,

peer-reviewed (§ 9792.26.-Medical Evidence Evaluation Advisory Committee)

medical

treatment guidelines are nationally recognized by the medical community.

These laws govern set precedence, and they have been adopted by

institutional entities, including HMO; PPO; POS and other insurance plans in

the

State of California.

The Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations (CAOMA), and

the National Guild under consultative advisement by the RAND Corporation,

and by the Medical Unit of the California Division of Worker’s Compensation

researched and developed those treatment guidelines accepted by the

National Guidelines Clearinghouse to meet the criteria for inclusion in the

Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS).

Historically, Acupuncture and acupuncturists were excluded with the

passage of 2004, SB-899 Worker’s Compensation reform; due to a lack of

science

and evidence-based research at that time. In an effort to reconcile this

perceived evidentiary chasm in medicine, CAOMA and the Guild members supported

a medical practitioner and colleague that has been appointed by the

Administrative Director, and also recommended by its Medical Director for two

consecutive terms to the prestigious California Medical Evidence Evaluation

Advisory Committee. These prestigious professional accolades and the

subsequent medical appointment have been instrumental to the development of the

MTUS, and its precedent setting implementation.

The MTUS duly specifies in its Acupuncture Medical Treatment Guidelines

that its practice must be evidence-based, and in full compliance with the

Division of Workers’ Compensation Qualified Medical Evaluator Regulations LC

3209.3.

The work efforts of Ji-Sheng Han, M.D., Director of the Neuroscience

Research Institute at Peking University, and an established member of the

prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences is meritorious of recognition by

California Labor Code Section 9792.24.1. Professor Han has been actively

engaged in

the in the research of basic mechanisms of acupuncture since 1965.

Professor Han is an early principle participant in a research project assigned

by

the late Zhou En-Lai, notably the Premier of the People’s Republic of

China, see Han JS. Acupuncture and endorphins. Neurosci Lett. (2004) May 6; 361

(1-3): 258-61.

Recognition of the authentic root of Chinese medical history meritoriously

provides a scientific explanation on the effect of: needle insertion; by

the muscles; vascular and nervous structures notably their regulatory

centers in the brain and spine cord (CNS); as well as, provide a repeatable

outcome protocol based on the Chinese discovery on blood circulation;

recognition of longitudinal distribution and segmental dominance of vessels and

nerves. Recognition is warranted on many other major physiologic discoveries.

Primary Care as required by Section 4926 is related to the fundamental

status, and responsibilities of the practitioner, in relationship to the

public. Under B & P Code 4926 the California Legislature established the

following

mandate:

Framework for the practice of the Art and Science of oriental medicine

through Acupuncture…‘regulated as a primary care profession.

Primary Care as required by Section 4926 is related to the fundamental

status, and responsibilities of the practitioner, in relationship to the

public as required by LC 3209.3 and Section 9767.1 Medical Provider Networks.

The definition of acupuncture and its utility can be found in the CA B & P

Code 4927 (d)

To prevent or modify the perception of pain or normalize physiological

functions, including pain control, for the treatment of certain diseases or

dysfunctions of the body and § 9792.24.1., to hasten functional discovery.

The MTUS § 9792.25. Presumption of Correctness, Burden of Proof and

Strength of Evidence, note:

Is presumptively correct on the issue of extent and scope of medical

treatment and diagnostic services…‘scientifically and evidence-based,

peer-reviewed.â€

§ 9792.26. Medical Evidence Evaluation Advisory Committee, note:

Medical treatment guidelines that are nationally recognized by the medical

community…For all conditions or injuries not addressed by the MTUS,

authorized treatment and diagnostic services shall be in accordance with other

scientifically and evidence-based medical treatment guidelines that are

nationally recognized by the medical community.

The Guild has collaborated in conjunction with those professional efforts

conducted by Ted Priebe, L.Ac, OMD, and Donald Kendall, L.Ac., OMD., PhD.,

to develop and to obtain receipt of the first scientific evidence-based

course curriculum accreditation program from the Medical Unit, on the

evaluation and treatment of neuropathic pain with the Needling Therapy

Education

Provider DWC 1210.

This new precedence has set the new standard for specialty education for

the evaluation and treatment of pain for L.Ac.

The only Accredited, Approved Acupuncture Pain Management Program, and

Provider of Continuing Education for QUALIFIED MEDICAL EVALUATOR (QMEs)

through the Division of Worker’s Compensation, Medical Unit. PENDING

recognition

in compliance with the DIVISION OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION QUALIFIED MEDICAL

EVALUATOR REGULATIONS LC 3209.3 Licensed Acupuncturists TITLE 8, under §

13, and also, Physician’s Specialty and TITLE 8, and under § 12. Recognition

of Specialty Boards [note: this Specialty had been blocked by the previous

CAB].

NGAOM.org: National Standard Needling Therapy, © Dec 2009 Priebe