Nevada may have been the first state in the nation to legalize traditional Chinese medicine / acupuncture, but that historic accomplishment isn't stopping state legislators from introducing a bill that would eliminate the Nevada State Board of Oriental Medicine.
AB 335 would create a Division of Occupational Licensing in the Department of Business and Industry; that division would assume oversight where the board once did; but rather than boast broad AOM representation, as the board currently does, only a single AOM practitioner would be represented on the division in matters pertaining to the profession.
The board provided a statement to Acupuncture Today emphasizing the dangers to the state's AOM profession if the bill becomes law:
"Nevada became the first state in the United States to legalize acupuncture in 1973. Since then, the Nevada State Board of Oriental Medicine has promoted the use of Oriental Medicine, set the standards of licensing, and ensured public safety. The Board oversees a specialized area of medicine that provides valuable access to health care to rural and urban populations. The practice is highly specialized and regulation by a not-yet-created division of the Department of Business and Industry poses significant risks to patients. Specifically, a regulatory oversight body that lacks practicing members of the field may be unable to adequately interpret the standards of care that govern the practice of Oriental Medicine. The Board is concerned that the long history of Oriental Medicine in Nevada is being disregarded. This is very disturbing, not only for public safety, [but also] for the integrity of this complex medicine; and especially in light of the current climate of Asian harassment, discrimination, and violence."
A more detailed version of this article will appear in the June digital issue and include statements from the Nevada Oriental Medicine Association and the NCCAOM; as well as any further developments regarding AB 335.
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The Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) has announced it is closing after 41 years. Pending accreditor approval, OCOM will cease offering classes after September (fourth-year OCOM students graduate Aug. 26). All current / incoming OCOM students have the option of continuing their education at the National University of Natural Medicine or Five Branches University, or transferring to another school altogether.
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