Support AB 3014 (CA)

The AAOM is writing to give assistance to California in support of AB 3014 (Koretz) "Asian Massage".

PURPOSE
This bill defines the term "Asian massage" in Statute so that California insurance carriers and providers, for the purposes of reimbursement, know what procedures an acupuncturist can legally perform under the Acupuncture Act.

SUMMARY
This bill amends Business and Professions Code Section 4937, the Acupuncture Licensure Act, to codify the definition of "Asian Massage" in California law.

AB 3014 will define "Asian Massage" to mean the use of pressure techniques, including myofascial release/manual therapy as it relates to soft tissues, through massage and mobilization of the skin and muscle for the therapeutic objective of stimulization of proper body function.

COMMENTS
Since 1981, California acupuncturists have participated in the Workers' Compensation system and have used designated procedure/billing codes along with many other physical medicine codes for various types of therapy, procedures and modalities that are within the acupuncturist scope of practice.

Workers' Compensation Codes are used universally among all healthcare professionals in the United States. While manual therapy is a Western term, treatment procedures relating to it are limited to each profession's scope of practice. For example, the Western term for 'myofascial release,' is a treatment used not only in acupuncture but also in physical therapy. However, in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, the term refers to the massage of tissue, joints, muscles and pressure of soft tissue manipulation known as Tui Na.

In fact, myofascial release procedures are steeped in the history of Oriental medicine. These procedures were developed primarily by the Chinese in use of pressure techniques, massage, manipulation and mobilization of tissues and bones, all of which are included within the definition of Asian massage.

CALL TO ACTION
AB 3014 will be heard in the California Business & Professions on Tuesday, May 9th. We request you call or fax your support of this legislation. The area of focus for such support could include:

The uses of "Asian Massage" techniques are well established in the tradition of Oriental (Asian) Medicine. These techniques as applied by acupuncturists are best defined in the practice and coding procedures of medicine as 'Myofascial Release' and "Manual Therapy". Defining them as such in statute will allow the California health care consumer to acquire insurance coverage for medically necessary treatments and provide standardized medical terms for use in communication with other medical providers and patient charting.

I'm asking for your support of AB 3014.

Members of the CA B&P include:

Gloria Negrete McLeod, Chair
916-319-2061 (319-2161 Fax) Assemblymember.McLeod@assembly.ca.gov

Shirley Horton, Vice Chair
916-319-2078 (319-2178 FAX) Assemblymember.Shirley.Horton@assembly.ca.gov

Karen Bass
916-319-2047 (319-2147 FAX) Assemblymember.Bass@assembly.ca.gov

Paul Koretz
916-319-2042 (319-2142 FAX) Assemblymember.Koretz@assembly.ca.gov

Bill Maze
916-319-2034 (319-2134 FAX) Assemblymember.Maze@assembly.ca.gov

Joe Nation
916-319-2006 (319-2106 FAX)

Van Tran
916-319-2068 (319-2168 FAX) Assemblymember.Tran@assembly.ca.gov

Juan Vargas
916-319-2079 (319-2179 FAX) Assemblymember.Vargas@assembly.ca.gov

Leland Yee
916-319-2012 (319-2012 FAX) Assemblymember.Yee@assembly.ca.gov

Sincerely,

Lloyd G. Wright, LAc, DNBAO
Chair, Legislative Affairs