Delaware General Assembly

(1) "Acupuncture" is the stimulation of points on the body by the insertion and manipulation of acupuncture needles using both traditional and modern scientific methods of evaluation and point selection. It also refers to a form of health care, based on a theory of energetic physiology that describes and explains the interrelationship of the body organs or functions with an associated acupuncture point or combination of points located on "channels" or "meridians". Acupuncture points shall include the classical points defined in authoritative acupuncture texts and special groupings of acupuncture points elicited using generally accepted diagnostic techniques of eastern oriental medicine and selected for stimulation in accord with its principles and practices. Acupuncture points are stimulated in order to restore the normal function of the aforementioned organs or sets of functions. Acupuncture shall also include the ancillary techniques of eastern medicine including moxibustion, acupressure or other forms of manual meridian therapy and recommendations that include eastern oriental dietary therapy, supplements and lifestyle modifications. according to the principles of oriental medicine. Oriental dietary therapy shall be defined as recommending, advising or furnishing nonfraudulent information about herbs, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, sugars, enzymes, food concentrates, foods, other food supplements, or dietary supplements. For purposes of this paragraph, "fraud" shall be defined as an intentional misrepresentation for financial gain. Legitimate disagreement about the role of the above-listed nutrients and foods as they apply to human nutrition shall not, in and of itself, constitute fraud. These supplemental techniques may be used within the public domain or by another licensed or registered healthcare or bodywork professional, according to state law or regulation.

(2) "Board" means the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline.

(3) "Council" means the Acupuncture Advisory Council.

(4) "License" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice acupuncture.

(5) “Eastern Medicine” means the practice of acupuncture, Chinese herbology and Asian bodywork therapy as part of a comprehensive health care system encompassing a variety of traditional health care therapies that have been used for more than 3,000 years to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease and improve well-being.

(5)a. (6)a. "Practice of acupuncture" means the use of needles with or without electrical stimulation or of oriental medical therapies for the purpose of normalizing energetic physiological functions including pain control, and for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health.

b. Needles used in the practice of acupuncture shall only be pre-packaged, single use, sterile acupuncture needles. These needles shall only be used on an individual patient in a single treatment session and disposed of according to federal standards for biohazard waste.

(1) Achievement of a Diplomate in Acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) or its equivalent as recognized by the Council and approved by the Board, or an organization that is recognized as equivalent to the NCCAOM by the Council and approved by the Board; and

(2) Completion of a course or evidence of passing an examination in clean needle technique;

(3) An applicant for whom English is a second language shall demonstrate the ability to communicate in the English language as determined by regulations as recommended by the Council and approved by the Board;

(4) The applicant:

a. May not have been assessed any administrative penalties regarding the applicant's practice of acupuncture, including but not limited to fines, formal reprimands, license suspension or revocation (except for license suspension or revocation for nonpayment of license renewal fees) and probationary limitations; and

b. May not have entered into a consent agreement which contains conditions placed by a board or other authority on the applicant's professional conduct or practice, including the voluntary surrender of the applicant's license while under investigation for misconduct.

However, the Board may, after a hearing, waive the requirement of paragraph (a)(4)a. of this section if the administrative penalty prevents the issuance of a license;

(5) The applicant may not have an impairment related to the current use of drugs or alcohol which substantially impairs the practice of acupuncture with reasonable skill and safety;

(6) The applicant may not have been convicted of or may not have admitted under oath to having committed a crime substantially related to the practice of acupuncture. "Substantially related" means that the nature of the criminal conduct for which the person was convicted or to which the person admitted under oath has a direct bearing on the person's fitness or ability to perform 1 or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the practice of acupuncture. The Board shall promulgate regulations specifically identifying the crimes which are substantially related to the practice of acupuncture;

(7) Meet any other qualifications that the Board establishes in regulations.

(8) An acupuncturist who obtains licensure pursuant to this section may go on to become a licensed acupuncture and eastern medicine practitioner by achieving a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) or its equivalent as recognized by the Council and approved by the Board, or an organization that is recognized as equivalent to the NCCAOM by the Council and approved by the Board.

(2)a. If the Board or the Acupuncture Advisory Council receives a formal or informal complaint concerning the activity of an acupuncture practitioner a licensee and the Board or Council members reasonably believe that the activity presents a clear and immediate danger to the public health, the Council may recommend that the Board issue an order temporarily suspending the acupuncture practitioner's licensee’s license to practice pending a hearing. An order temporarily suspending a license to practice may not be issued by the Board, unless the acupuncture practitioner licensee or the acupuncture practitioner's licensee’s attorney received at least 24 hours' written or oral notice prior to the temporary suspension so that the acupuncture practitioner licensee or the acupuncture practitioner's licensee’s attorney can be heard in opposition to the proposed suspension, and unless at least 3 members of the Council and 7 members of the Board vote in favor of the temporary suspension. An order of temporary suspension pending a hearing may remain in effect for no longer than 60 days from the date of the issuance of the order unless the temporarily suspended acupuncture practitioner licensee requests a continuance of the hearing date. If the acupuncture practitioner licensee requests a continuance, the order of temporary suspension remains in effect until the hearing panel convenes and a decision is rendered.

b. An acupuncture practitioner A licensee whose license to practice has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section must be notified of the temporary suspension immediately and in writing. Notification consists of a copy of the complaint and the order of temporary suspension pending a hearing personally served upon the acupuncture practitioner licensee or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the acupuncture practitioner's licensee’s last known address.

c. An acupuncture practitioner A licensee whose license to practice has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section may request an expedited hearing. The Council shall schedule the hearing on an expedited basis, provided that the Council receives the request within 5 calendar days from the date on which the acupuncture practitioner licensee received notification of the decision of the Board, to temporarily suspend the acupuncture practitioner's licensee’s license to practice.

d. As soon as possible after the issuance of an order temporarily suspending an acupuncture practitioner's a licensee’s license to practice pending a hearing, the Council Chair shall appoint a 3-member hearing panel consisting of 3 members; 1 of the 3 shall be a physician member of the Board; 2 of the 3 shall be unbiased members of the Acupuncture Advisory Council; and if no conflict exists, 1 of the 2 Acupuncture Advisory Council members shall be the Chair of the Acupuncture Advisory Council. The Chair of the hearing panel shall be 1 of the Council panel members. After notice to the acupuncture practitioner licensee pursuant to paragraph (e)(2)b. of this section, the hearing panel shall convene within 60 days of the date of the issuance of the order of temporary suspension to consider the evidence regarding the matters alleged in the complaint. If an acupuncture practitioner requests in a timely manner an expedited hearing, the hearing panel shall convene within 15 days of the receipt of the request by the Council. The 3-member panel shall proceed to a hearing in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 1734 of this title and shall render a decision within 30 days of the hearing.

e. In addition to making findings of fact, the hearing panel shall also determine whether the facts found by it constitute a clear and immediate danger to public health. If the hearing panel determines that the facts found constitute a clear and immediate danger to public health, the order of temporary suspension must remain in effect until the Board, pursuant to § 1734(g) of this title, deliberates and reaches conclusions of law based upon the findings of fact made by the hearing panel. An order of temporary suspension may not remain in effect for longer than 60 days from the date of the decision rendered by the hearing panel unless the suspended acupuncture practitioner licensee requests an extension of the order pending a final decision of the Board. Upon the final decision of the Board, an order of temporary suspension is vacated as a matter of law and is replaced by the disciplinary action, if any, ordered by the Board.

(1) Completion of a course or evidence of passing an examination in clean needle technique; and

(2) The applicant demonstrates competence in performing acupuncture by meeting 1 of the following standards for education or training:

a. Graduation from a course of training of at least 1,800 hours in acupuncture, including 300 clinical hours, that is accredited by the ACAOM or found by the Council to be equivalent to a course approved by the ACAOM; or

b. Achievement of a diplomate in acupuncture from the NCCAOM or its equivalent organization, or achieve a passing score on an examination that is determined by the Board to be equivalent to the examination that is given by NCCAOM.

(1) Has successfully completed the NADA auricular point protocol training program or an equivalent training program satisfactory to the Council and Board for the treatment of alcoholism, nicotine dependency, substance abuse, or chemical dependency that meets or exceeds the standards of training set by the NADA including instruction in clean needle technique;

(2) Maintains current certification from the NADA or an equivalent organization satisfactory to the Board that meets or exceeds the standards of training set by NADA;

(3) Must provide evidence of a current license or certificate in good standing in a healthcare related profession as approved by the Council and the Board. However, individuals providing evidence of NADA certification obtained prior to the date of the enactment of this legislation shall not be required to provide evidence of licensure or certification in a healthcare profession; and

(4) Performs the auricular point protocol within a state, federal, or board approved alcohol, substance abuse, or chemical dependency program or other Council and Board approved healthcare setting; and

(5) (3) Is in good standing as defined in § 1798(a)(4)-(7) of this title.

(1) The applicant's education, training, qualifications and conduct have been sufficient to overcome the deficiency or deficiencies in meeting the requirements of this section;

(2) The applicant is capable of practicing as an acupuncture detoxification specialist in a competent and professional manner;

(3) The granting of the waiver will not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare; and

(4) For waiver of a crime substantially related to the practice of acupuncture, more than 5 years have elapsed since the applicant has fully discharged all imposed sentences. As used herein, the term "sentence" includes, but is not limited to, all periods of modification of a sentence, probation, parole or suspension. However, "sentence" does not include fines, restitution or community service, as long as the applicant is in substantial compliance with such fines, restitution and community service.