HOUSE MEMORIAL 121

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE, INCLUDING ORIENTAL MEDICINE EXPANDED PRACTICE, AS A VITAL FORM OF HEALTH CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, doctors of oriental medicine, including doctors of oriental medicine certified for expanded practice, have provided New Mexico residents with effective, essential health care services for decades; and

     WHEREAS, the practice of oriental medicine has evolved over thousands of years, making it the most mature system of health care in the world; and

     WHEREAS, oriental medicine continues to evolve in the United States, and most notably in New Mexico, where a variety of diverse and effective health care traditions are consistently upheld and respected; and

     WHEREAS, since 1981, the New Mexico legislature has acknowledged the importance of oriental medicine by supporting a variety of measures that ensure that New Mexicans can choose both traditional and expanded approaches to oriental medicine; and

     WHEREAS, the practice of oriental medicine now includes an expanded component of practice that requires additional education and training; and

     WHEREAS, a number of doctors of oriental medicine are now certified in expanded oriental medicine practice and are authorized for a specifically defined scope of practice that has evolved and been established over many years; and

     WHEREAS, there has never been a disciplinary action against any New Mexico doctor of oriental medicine certified for expanded practice;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that oriental medicine, including oriental medicine expanded practice, be recognized as an important form of health care treatment for the people of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature acknowledge that the profession of doctor of oriental medicine, including doctor of oriental medicine expanded practice, has a record of providing reliable and effective treatment and that this profession can be safely regulated by the board of acupuncture and oriental medicine without additional oversight by any other health care professional board; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board of acupuncture and oriental medicine should retain the sole authority to regulate the scope of practice and prescriptive authority provided for in the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practice Act; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the regulation and licensing department and the board of acupuncture and oriental medicine be requested to review the process by which they determine when it is appropriate to attempt to restrict an established scope of practice either by proposed regulation or by proposed legislation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the board of acupuncture and oriental medicine, the board of pharmacy, the superintendent of regulation and licensing, the attorney general and the governor.

- 3 -