SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1828        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1104

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jennifer L. Flanagan

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An act to expand the scope of acupunture to treat drug addiction.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Jennifer L. Flanagan

 

Demetrius J. Atsalis

2nd Barnstable


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1828        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1104

By Ms. Flanagan, petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1104) of Atsalis and Flanagan for legislation to expand the scope of acupuncture to treat drug addiction [Joint Committee on Public Health].

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An act to expand the scope of acupunture to treat drug addiction.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section1. Chapter 112 Section 148 of the General Laws is hereby amended but inserting after section 149, the following section:-

Section 149A. The board of registry of medicine shall consider Acupuncture Injection Therapy as part of the scope of practice of those licensed to practice acupuncture.  Injection therapy shall mean the injection of herbs, homeopathic, and other nutritional supplements in the form of sterile substances into acupuncture points by means of hypodermic needles but not intravenous therapy to help prevent addiction to prescription drugs and prevent and reduce drug abuse; to promote, maintain, and restore health; for pain management and palliative care; and for acupuncture anesthesia.

Prior to the implementation of this Act  the Massachusetts Board Of Registration In Medicine shall,  based on similar laws passed in other states,  develop rules, regulations and educational requirements for Acupuncturists relative to the Certification of Acupuncturists allowed to use Acupuncture Injection Therapy  and  the administration of the Acupuncture Injection Therapy provisions of this Act.

Any licensed Acupuncturist in Massachusetts certified to practice injection therapy in other states at the time of the passage of this Act shall be allowed to practice Acupuncture Injection Therapy in Massachusetts immediately upon the passage of this Act.