HB 190 -- ACUPUNCTURE (Rizzo)

This bill establishes licensure for the practice of acupuncture
within the Division of Professional Registration.  No person
can  practice as an acupuncturist without first being licensed
with the division. The bill contains provisions allowing the
division to establish guidelines regarding qualifications, fees,
continuing education, rule-making authority, and license
renewal, suspension, and revocation.

Under this bill an auricular detox technician does not need a
license to practice acupuncture, as long as he or she only
performs auricular detox treatment under the supervision of a
licensed acupuncturist.  An auricular detox technician is a
person who performs a very limited procedure consisting of
acupuncture needles inserted into a specific point of the outer
ear of a person undergoing drug or alcohol treatment.

This bill also creates the Clinical Perfusionist Licensure Act.
Perfusion is a procedure conducted during open heart surgery in
which oxygenated blood is circulated throughout the body.  A
clinical perfusionist is a health care professional who operates
the cardiopulmonary bypass systems which circulate extra--
corporeal (circulating blood outside the body) during cardiac
surgical cases.

This bill creates the Perfusionist Licensing Board within the
Division of Professional Registration.   The bill contains
provisions regarding the appointment and make-up of the board,
its duties, terms of service, compensation, meetings, election
of officers, and the removal of members.

The bill describes the functions and duties of the board, which
include adopting a code of ethics; establishing qualifications
for licensure; assessing the competency of prospective
licensees; giving examinations, issuing, suspending, and
revoking licenses; establishing and issuing provisional
licenses; creating reciprocal agreements; collecting fees; and
establishing continuing education programs.

The bill also establishes the Licensed Perfusionists Fund
within  the state treasury.  Monies placed in the fund will be
used to offset the cost incurred for the operation and
maintenance of the board.

This bill contains penalty provisions and has an effective date
of January 1, 1998 for the perfusion portion of bill.

The bill also places any rules promulgated under its authority
under certain standards for withstanding a challenge, requires
the court to award reasonable fees and expenses to any
prevailing party in such a challenge, and requires that rules
promugated pursuant to the bill expire on August 28th of the
year after they become effective unless extended by statute.
These rules provisions have a conditional termination date.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Effect to Professional Registration
Fees Fund of a Cost of $10,986 for FY 1998, an Income of $18,025
for FY 1999, and an Income of $2,888 for FY 2000.  Estimated Net
Effect to Licensed Perfusionists Fund of an Increase of $20,000
for FY 1998, a Cost of $6,716 for FY 1999, and an Increase of
$11,040 for FY 2000.

HB 190 -- ACUPUNCTURE

Sponsor:  Rizzo

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 11 to 4.

This bill establishes licensure for the practice of acupuncture
within the Division of Professional Registration.  No person
can  practice as an acupuncturist without first being licensed
with the division. The bill contains provisions allowing the
division to establish guidelines regarding qualifications, fees,
continuing education, rule making authority, and license
renewal, suspension, and revocation.

Under this bill an auricular detox technician does not need a
license to practice acupuncture, as long as he or she only
performs auricular detox treatment under the supervision of a
licensed acupuncturist.  An auricular detox technician is a
person who performs a very limited procedure consisting of
acupuncture needles inserted into a specific point of the outer
ear of a person undergoing drug or alcohol treatment.

Violation of any provisions of this bill is a class B
misdemeanor.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Effect to Professional Registration
Fees Fund of an increase of $8,458 for FY 1998, a cost of $1,419
for FY 1999, and an increase of $2,888 for FY 2000.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the practice of acupuncture is
being performed more frequently.  Many people are finding that
it is a good alternative form of treatment instead of drugs.
Currently acupuncture is being performed on people with drug and
alcohol problems with a good success rate.  It is felt that
acupuncture can treat many diseases at a very low cost to the
patient.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Rizzo; and the
Missouri Acupuncture Association.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that it would give
acupuncturists a broad scope of practice and there could be a
public safety question due to the lack of training.

Testifying against the bill were Missouri State Chiropractors
Association; and Missouri Osteopathic Association.

Bob Dominique, Research Analyst

HB 190 -- Acupuncture

Co-Sponsors:  Rizzo, Copeland

This bill establishes licensure for the practice of acupuncture
within the Division of Professional Registration.  No person
can  practice as an acupuncturist without first being licensed
with the division. The bill contains provisions allowing the
division to establish guidelines regarding qualifications, fees,
continuing education, rule making authority, and license
renewal, suspension, and revocation.

Under this bill an auricular detox technician does not need a
license to practice acupuncture, as long as he or she only
performs auricular detox treatment under the supervision of a
licensed acupuncturist.  An auricular detox technician is a
person who performs a very limited procedure consisting of
acupuncture needles inserted into a specific point of the outer
ear of a person undergoing drug or alcohol treatment.

Violation of any provisions of this bill is a class B
misdemeanor.