2012 Spring Conference – Sunday, April 15, 2012

Conference attendance is FREE with membership! Become a member today a reserve your spot at the conference.

More information coming soon ……

Visit http://www.aaaomonline.org/ and get caught up on the AAAOM’s work.

Click Below to TAKE ACTION!

You have an opportunity to take action to advance and protect the acupuncture profession. Please take action before January 31st by sending an email or letter. Include your personal experience with Acupuncture, as a patient or practitioner, even better!

Share this with your friends, family, patients and other contacts so we can get enough letters to have an impact on this legislation. The goal is 50,000 letters, so every letter helps!

If you have not yet replied and plan to, the AAAOM leadership requests that you please 1) use the template letter below (in addition to your own comments) and 2) remove automated signatures, images, & quotes from the bottom your e-mails.

The email address for the public comment is: EssentialHealthBenefits@cms.hhs.gov.
Please cc the national acupuncture organization, AAAOM at: ehb@aaaomonline.org.

LINKS

• The Department of Health and Human Services is currently drafting the policy for the Affordable Care Act. This gives us an opportunity to include modalities such as acupuncture and help shift the focus of health care in this country to include a more preventative and holistic approach.

_________________________________________________________________

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is in response to The Department of Health and Human Services 12/16/11 bulletin outlining proposed policies that will give states more flexibility to implement the Affordable Care Act.

Please accept my comments contained in this letter and include same as part of the Public Comment period due by January 31, 2012:

1. I have been a patient of acupuncture and consider it an essential part of my health care. (include personal experience here)

2. Acupuncture should be included as an Essential Health Benefit by HHS under the Affordable Care Act.

3. States should be specifically directed by HHS to include acupuncture in their essential health benefits package.

Respectfully submitted,

Name:  _____________________
Address:  ___________________

Head, Heart, and Hara:

An Introduction to Kiiko Matsumoto’s Style of Acupuncture
March 10-11  Portland, Oregon

For the first time in more than a decade, Kiiko Matsumoto is coming to Portland.

The class will yield a wealth of new information for first-timers and old-timers alike. In live treatment demonstrations, Kiiko will  address the Upper Tan Tien (memory loss, vision problems, neuropsychological conditions), Middle Tan Tien (anxiety, insomnia, and other Shen disorders, cardiac and digestive problems) and Lower Tan Tien (adrenal burnout, lumbar and pelvic pain, infertility.) *

You will learn the foundations of Kiiko treatment style: Measuring pulse rate to determine treatment strategy; a palpation technique to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture points before they are needled; and how to balance the immune, hormonal, and nervous systems with acupuncture and moxibustion.

Don’t miss out on what one repeat attender calls the “Kiiko Jolt”: An elevated sense of enjoyment and effectiveness in one’s practice that arises from time spent with this inspiring and transformational teacher.

Whether its an introduction—or a re-introduction—to Kiiko’s style of acupuncture, this class will change the way you think and practice.

March 10 – 11 
Portland Courtyard Marriott
8:30  to 5:30
14 PDA Hours, NCCAOM Approval Pending

$359.00 before Feb. 24. After Feb. 24: $400.00

Checks payable to Tom Williams 
670 E. 18th Ave. Eugene, OR 97401
tomwilliamslac@gmail.com   
541-686-9658

http://www.turningpointcenter.net/kiiko-class/

Provide Input on Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organizations – In this round of public comment the key issue is adding non-discrimination language to the Transformation bill.

ACT NOW  - Public input by email – OHPB.Info@state.or.us – until 5:00 p.m. – before January 18, 2012

Send an email to OHPB.Info@state.or.us, relating to the importance of including non-discrimination language regarding the use, availability, proper reimbursement, etc. of Naturopathic Doctors, chiropractors, allopaths, and others that fall into the category of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine(CAM).

• The ABCs of CCOs - The Basics of How Oregon Aims to Transform Health Care
• Health System Transformation Information- health.oregon.gov
• What is a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO)? A CCO is a new legal entity created by the state legislature to improve the delivery of health care and make Oregonians healthier.

Sample Sentences to Include in Your Email:

• Please ensure I and my family can choose to treat with my (list the provider type__________). Do not allow Oregon’s coming “Coordinated Care Organizations” to discriminate against this form of treatment.
• There are so many natural remedies that work without all the side effects and so many drugs that don’t please make sure that_________________(list the provider type) is fully included in the “Coordinated Care Organizations.”
• If the Governor is really serious about transforming how we deliver health care not just how we pay for it complimentary and alternative medical providers must not be discriminate against by the CCOs.
• ObamaCare has non-discrimination language so that the natural healers like my____________________(name the provider type) cannot and will not be discriminated against, please make sure Oregon Does the same.
• Drugs, drugs, and more drugs is all medicine has to offer its time to change I want ___________ (name the modality) first, drugs second, and surgery last.  Make sure the CCOs cannot discriminate against____________(name the provider type)

Panel Discussion on Lab Testing in Acupuncture Practice

Friday, December 2, 2011
5:00 – 6:00
OCOM – Room B, Clinic Building

The OAAOM is reinvigorating the “Treasures of Oregon” member events with a panel discussion on lab testing in acupuncture practice.

Join special guest Jake Fratkin, LAc, OMD and OAAOM members Malvin Finkelstein, LAc and Siamak Shiraz, LAc along with experts from OCOM and the OMB Acupuncture Advisory Council (AAC) for a lively discussion about lab testing privileges for LAcs, including the regulatory, safety and ethical concerns involved.

This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments provided courtesy of the OCOM Alumni Association

Congratulations to the acupuncture profession and the OAAOM!

On July 29, 2011 The Oregon Court of Appeals granted an injunction (stay of the OBCE administrative rule) to stop any certification of chiropractors to do acupuncture (dry needling) in Oregon until the case is heard in the Court of Appeals. The OBCE, the University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College), and Woodstock Chiropractic Clinic challenged the injunction in the fall.

The OAAOM has heard from our attorney, Thane Tienson, that the injunction was upheld and will continue until the case is heard in the Court of Appeals in 6 to 9 months.

The OAAOM is leading this challenge nationally as we are the first state to legally challenge the chiropractors and physical therapists on this dry needling issue.

Order Denying Motion for Reconsideration.pdf

Share officespace with established, friendly acupuncturist.  Great for LAc’s, LMT’s, talk therapists etc. The office comes with a sink, a small kitchen area, and highest level soundproofing between treatment rooms. Building is ADA accessible, class A, has on site management, parking, is easily reached by all buses.  Rent includes all utilities, cleaning 3 times per week, free internet and the use of the building’s conference and shower room. $700 a month full time – $400 part time.  A great deal for the location and for all that is provided!

Go to my website christineknightacupuncture.com to see more photos of the building and office and to learn about me!