FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1398

                         C 323 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Regulating acupuncture licensing.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Dyer, Dellwo, Backlund, Quall, Conway, Cody, Morris and Casada).

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:  Persons who practice acupuncture must be certified to practice by the Department of Health unless otherwise authorized by law to perform such procedures.

Acupuncture is regulated under other practice laws as well.  Physician assistants and osteopathic physician assistants, when certified by their respective boards, may practice acupuncture under the direct supervision of either a physician or osteopathic physician.  Physicians may also practice acupuncture as their scope of practice includes medicine and surgery generally.

The acupuncture certification law defines acupuncture as a health care service based on an Oriental system of medical theory which treats organic or functional disorders by employing specified techniques, such as needles or other modalities, at specific acupuncture points or meridians on the human body.  The rendering of dietary advice based on traditional Oriental medical theory is also within the scope of acupuncture certification law.

Summary:  The technical regulatory terminology of the practice of acupuncture is changed from certification to licensure, and only persons qualifying for licensure may practice acupuncture, unless otherwise authorized by law in other practice acts.

The rendering of dietary advice is included in the scope of practice only in conjunction with the use of other acupuncture techniques.  A license would not be required solely for the rendering of dietary advice.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     97 0

Senate    48 0 (Senate amended)

House     96 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995