The year of the pig is underway—there are so many issues facing the profession that it's hard to know where to begin. I do want to start by saying congratulations to the Asian Medicine Acupuncturists of Arizona (AMAAZ) upon it re-organization, and re-invigorating their group. They held a festive dinner for the Chinese New Year, attended by acupuncturists and students alike, which also celebrated their updated association.

State Associations

The importance of one unified association in the state, was demonstrated with the show of support by attending the afternoon and evening meeting. A number of the issues facing the profession. Both state associations and the national Federation are working on membership. What does membership in an acupuncture association mean? Historically people in one profession would join together to work on issues together.

In today's culture it seems to be an issue of what the association will do for each member. I am reminded by what President John F, Kennedy said in his acceptance speech, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." It is time to begin to ask yourself, how can I help my profession. It is time to unite as a profession, both professionally and students (students are the future professionals). Why join an association?

1. Because you are in a profession, and you are a professional.
2. Because we must work with state and federal regulations, regulators, and legislators as well as the federal Congress.
3. Because one of the first questions regulators legislators congressional people always ask is how many members of your profession do you represent.
4. Because by uniting not just in our states but also nationally we create a bigger professional footprint for this medicine.
5. Because we need one concise message to convey to legislators state regulators and the Congress the wants and the needs of this profession.

More Issues to Consider

Dry needling is an issue that is facing the profession not just an individual states but nationwide.

There are three states left in the U.S. that do not have recognition or regulations. South Dakota, Alabama, and Oklahoma still need state laws and regulations.

The issue of the national examination and what it does for the people who are nationally certified.

We also must look at recognizing political action committee contributions there needs to be one in each state as well as a national  political action committee.

The opioid crisis in the U.S. has provided an opening for this medicine we as practitioners must be prepared to meet those challenges.

This medicine is going to have its own set of diagnostic codes. ICD-TM 11 is being voted on by the World Health Organization general assembly in May 2019. These codes give credibility and a strong foundation for this medicine world wide. This medicine is also being included in the safety classification for the world health organization.

There are many points of discussion many issues the practitioners in California have been asked by the state legislature to unify and create one state association so that the message going to legislators and regulators will be concise and reach by consensus.

The NCCAOM has created a reciprocal route for practitioners who have an active license in California to become nationally certified without having to take the examinations. Many opinions vary as to whether that exam should be brought into California for the new students. California being the only state that does not use this exam as a pathway for licensure, creates an issue with the United States is not a complete entity and we need that in order to create and move our standards forward when someone is in CCAM certified they are recognized nationally by a national certification body.

The opioid crisis is an issues that will benefit the entire profession if we can come together and create, by consensus, a set of talking points this process helps to think about and discuss the most important remarks to convey the message about traditional medicine and where it fits in the opioid crisis. When acupuncture and acupuncturists are included in the solution,  it gives patients a choice. Acupuncture can be used for pain control before opioids are ever prescribed as well as being able to help to reduce addiction.

I am sure that there are more issues I've listed just a few facing the profession this coming year. What are some of the possible solutions? What are some action items, specific talking points with back up information to create credibility for this medicine.

Click here for more information about Marilyn Allen, Editor-at-Large.