Representatives Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR) and Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) have become the 43rd and 44th co-sponsors, respectively, of HR 818, the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2005. Rep. DeFazio is the second member from Oregon's congressional delegation to lend his support to HR 818, and has co-sponsored previous versions of the bill in past sessions. Rep. Maloney co-sponsored the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act when it was introduced in the last congressional session as HR 1477, and is the seventh representative from New York to co-sponsor the current bill. She is also the 10th member of the Committee on Government Reform to co-sponsor the legislation.
Introduced by Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), the purpose of the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act is to amend the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under part B of the Medicare program, and to amend title 5 of the United States Code to provide for coverage of such services under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The bill has been introduced in every congressional session since 1993.
For more information on HR 818, visit http://thomas.loc.gov and enter "HR 818" in the "Search Bill Text" field.
