Tennessee § 63-6-1001 - Part definitions.

§ 63-6-1001. Part definitions.

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires: “ACAOM” means the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; “Acupuncture” means a form of health care developed from traditional and modern oriental medical concepts that employs oriental medical diagnosis and treatment and adjunctive therapies and diagnostic techniques for the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health and the prevention of disease; “ADS” means an acupuncture detoxification specialist trained in, and who performs only, the five-point auricular detoxification treatment; “Board” means the Tennessee board of medical examiners; “NADA” means the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association; “NCCAOM” means the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; and “Practice of acupuncture” means the insertion of acupuncture needles and the application of moxibustion to specific areas of the human body based on oriental medical diagnosis as a primary mode of therapy. Adjunctive therapies within the scope of acupuncture may include acupressure, cupping, thermal and electrical treatment and the recommendation of dietary guidelines and supplements and therapeutic exercise based on traditional oriental medical concepts. Acts 2000, ch. 685, § 3. Compiler's Notes. Acts 2000, ch. 685, § 1 provided that the purpose of the act is to promote the health, safety and welfare of the people of Tennessee by establishing an orderly system of acupuncture certification and to provide a valid, effective means of establishing certification requirements without undue financial burden to the people of Tennessee through the use of a national certifying commission that has been established to certify the competency of acupuncturists. Acts 2000, ch. 685, § 14 provided that it is the intent of the general assembly that certification of acupuncturists under this board shall cease and terminate on June 30, 2002. After June 30, 2002, the board shall issue licenses to those acupuncturists who are certified upon such date who meet the qualifications set out in this act. Certification is intended to be a temporary measure and shall expire as licensure of acupuncturists is implemented. Attorney General Opinions. Chiropractors may not practice a treatment modality that involves the insertion of needles with the intent bring about the same result as the needle insertion techniques applied in the practice of acupuncture, without first obtaining a certification to practice acupuncture, OAG 05-020, 2005 Tenn. AG LEXIS 20 (3/08/05).