ACUPUNCTURIST REGISTRATION H.B. 5205 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5205 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Randy Richardville
House Committee: Health Policy
Senate Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code and add Part 165 to the Code to provide for the registration of acupuncturists. The bill would do all of the following:
-- Establish a $75 application processing fee and an annual $150 registration fee.
-- Prohibit an individual from calling himself or herself an acupuncturist, or using certain other titles, without being registered.
-- Create the Michigan Board of Acupuncture within the Department of Community Health (DCH).
-- Require the DCH, in consultation with the Board, to promulgate rules setting forth the minimum standards for registration as an acupuncturist.
-- Allow the DCH, in consultation with the Board, to adopt by reference the professional standards issued by a certified program that was recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or by a nationally recognized trade association.
-- Specify that Part 165 would not require new or additional third-party reimbursement or mandated worker's compensation benefits for services rendered by a registered acupuncturist.
The bill would take effect July 1, 2005.
MCL 333.16131 et al. Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The State would incur costs associated with the administration, staffing, and per diem reimbursement for the Michigan Board of Acupuncture as well as the costs incurred in regulating the activities of registered acupuncturists in the State.
This cost would be offset by the $75 application processing fee for initial registration as an acupuncturist and the $150 annual registration fee for registered acupuncturists. While the number of individuals who would seek the registration is not clear, the Michigan Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine provided an estimate of 200 individuals in the State who currently meet the certification standards of the National Certifying Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, a national certifying body for acupuncture practitioners.
It could be expected that after the bill was enacted the number of individuals meeting the registration requirements would increase, as those who practice acupuncture would have greater incentive to meet Michigan Board of Acupuncture standards and become registered.
Date Completed: 12-3-04 Fiscal Analyst: David Fosdick
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb5205/0304