Scroll through our newsletter for information on:

• Call for volunteers - Marketing, PR and Social Media & American Society of Acupuncturists
• MN Legislative - Candidate Discussions and 2016 Legislative Preview
• Joint statement of boards of medicine, nursing and pharmacy
  
• Joint Acupuncture Opioid Task Force, Acupuncture Now Foundation and the American Society of Acupuncturists
  
• A Call to Action: Acupuncture on the frontlines for pain reduction
• Beyond The Yellow Ribbon's - Health and Wellness Event
• Civic Involvement Opportunities
• Monthly Membership Options
• Support GoFundMe campaign

1. Increase insurance coverage
2. Formulate primary care provider business model options, analyze how this affects private & community style clinics
3. Increase number of licensed acupuncturists on key boards:
• Board of Medicine
• DHS Advisory Committee
• PT Board
• Other priority medical boards
4. Implement positive, powerful and visible Public Relations
• Press, media, events, research, networking, “lunch & learns”
• Marketing training for practitioners
• Coaching opportunities for students and practitioners
5. Obtain increased vendor discounts
6. Consider Association name change for greater brand recognition / marketing
7. Formulate and Implement Fundraising Strategy
8. Create and implement the acupuncture arm of The Mission Project – outreach for Veterans

Contact Aaron Schindler at aschindler@nwhealth.edu to volunteer today.

Pain management and opioid prescription drug abuse are significant issues in healthcare today. There is a critical balance between preventing opioid misuse and managing pain. In the United States, 46 people die from a prescription opioid overdose each day. In 2007, the cost of prescription opioid abuse was estimated at $55.7 billion. In 2013, the leading cause of death due to injury was drug overdose with 51.8% being related to prescription drugs.

The tri-regulatory Boards of Medical Practice, Nursing, and Pharmacy (Boards) have collaboratively discussed growing concerns regarding access to pain management and prescription drug misuse and overdose. An increasingly interprofessional based healthcare delivery system requires collaborative guidance from the regulatory boards. With that in mind, the Boards adopted the first joint statement on pain management in 2004, which was reaffirmed in 2009, to give guidance regarding untreated or inadequately-treated pain. In 2015, the Boards again reviewed the issue of pain management to offer added guidance regarding appropriate prescribing with emphasis on the critical balance between pain management and the potential misuse of controlled substance medications.

Please download for the full report

The Joint Acupuncture Opioid Task Force thanks the CDC for soliciting public input for consideration in the development of the “CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016.”

Our task force is comprised of experts in the field of acupuncture including a national membership organization, an international non-profit educational foundation, and concerned authorities. We seek to provide the CDC with research findings to help improve the quality of information currently found in the draft of this guideline, specifically the sections dedicated to “Contextual Evidence Review” of “non-pharmacologic alternatives.”

Research is showing that acupuncture can effectively stimulate the production of the body’s own “endogenous opioids” as well as natural anti-inflammatory compounds. In other words, acupuncture can facilitate the better usage of the body’s own natural chemistry creating the potential for similar or sometimes better benefits than synthetic drugs, without the risks of addiction or side effects. This being the case, acupuncture has the potential to reduce or even in some cases eliminate the need for opioids and non-opioid drugs while also helping to treat opioid addiction.

Download for the full report

The Race for Minnesota's Second Congressional District:

DFL Candidate Discussion

Tuesday, January 19, 2016
12:00pm-1:15pm
Humphrey Forum, Humphrey School

Register Here

Congressman John Kline's decision not to run for reelection has sparked an important contest to represent the 2nd Congressional District. Join us for a lively conversation with the Democratic candidate Angie Craig.

The Race for Minnesota's Second Congressional District:

GOP Candidate Discussion

Thursday, January 21, 2016
12:00pm-1:15pm
Humphrey Forum, Humphrey School

Register Here

Congressman John Kline's decision not to run for reelection has sparked an important contest to represent the 2nd Congressional District. Join us for a lively conversation with the Republican candidates Pam Myhra, John Howe and Jason Lewis.

Preview of the 2016 Legislative Session

Monday, February 1, 2016

12:00pm-1:15pm

Humphrey Forum, Humphrey School

Register Here

A big surplus, a divided government and the issues of tax reform, education, and transportation loom ahead. All that and more face the legislature when it convenes for short session in 2016. Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk (DFL) and House Speaker Kurt Daudt (GOP) reveal their agendas and set our expectations in this 2016 legislative preview.

The Joint Acupuncture Opioid Task Force is being formed to create an expanded role for acupuncture in the guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain to combat the crisis of opioid addiction and dependency. We are looking to educate the public and policymakers about acupuncture’s potential.

The CDC is asking for input regarding proposed changes to their opioid guidelines. The Joint Acupuncture Opioid Task Force is calling for you to act. As a task force, we are requesting anecdotal or testimonial support from patients who have been helped by acupuncture. If you have a patient who would like to share their story regarding the ways that acupuncture has reduced or eliminated their opioid dependency and/or pain, we need to hear from them. The deadline for this input is January 13, 2016.

Tell the CDC here:

http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=CDC-2015-0112-0001

This link also gives suggestions on writing beneficial comments for the CDC: http://nationalpainreport.com/tips-on-how-to-comment-to-the-cdc-on-opioid-guidelines-8828710.html

This task force also needs your help with information collection. Do you know what is going on with your state legislation concerning opioid use, prescribing, or how your state plans to combat this epidemic? Do you know of an agency that is soliciting input regarding opioid policies? We would love to hear from you. Bonnie Bolash along with the Acupuncture Now Foundation, American Society of Acupuncturists, and other interested Acupuncturists are gathering this information to help acupuncture and acupuncturists be part of the solution.

Please contact us and share this information so we can begin compiling the data.

Please contact us at this email, jointacupunctureopioidtf@gmail.com.

Thank you for your attention and time,

The Joint Acupuncture Opioid Task Force

Add yourself to the list of acupuncturists that offer free/complimentary treatment to Veterans and caregivers. The association is looking for acupuncturists who provide free or complimentary treatments to Veterans an their families/caregivers.

• This list will be given to Veteran and military health advocates to offer referral options for those seeking care
  
• We will also use this list at educational events specifically for Veterans
  

You can determine your own limits or number of treatments. The association will provide the means for members to jointly promote and inform the public about these services.

Email aschindler@nwhealth.edu to be added to the list.

Also, if you would like to collect items for the active military, you can check out the Mission Project website for donations or if you would also like to work with the Mission Project directly.

The following committees and advisory councils are looking for licensed acupuncturists to get involved, please see below for additional information and next steps for those interested in getting involved!

ACUPUNCTURE ADVISORY COUNCIL

BOARD OF MEDICAL PRACTICE

2829 UNIVERSITY AVENUE SOUTHEAST, SUITE 500

MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55414‐3246

612‐617‐2130

Appointing: Board of Medical Practice

Compensation: $75 per diem

January 2016 Vacancies: One Acupuncture Practitioner and One Licensed Chiropractor

The council advises the Board of Medical Practice regarding acupuncture standards and the complaint/discipline process, and provides for distribution of information regarding the standards. Membership includes four acupuncture practitioners who meet licensure requirements and have practiced acupuncture at least three years, one licensed physician who also practices acupuncture, one licensed chiropractor who is NCCAOM‐certified, one public member who has received acupuncture treatmentas primary therapy from NCCAOM‐certified acupuncturist. Bimonthly meetings are held at the Board of Medical Practice Office.

BOARD OF MEDICAL PRACTICE

2829 UNIVERSITY AVENUE SOUTHEAST, SUITE 500

MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55414‐3246

612‐617‐2130

Appointing: Governor

Compensation: $75 per diem plus expenses

January 2016 Vacancies: Four seats including:

• One Public Member
  
• Three Physician Members
  

The board licenses and registers medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy, physician assistants, traditional midwives, respiratory therapists, acupuncturists, athletic trainers and naturopaths; and enforces the relevant practice acts. Membership includes: 10 licensed M.D. physicians; one licensed doctor of Osteopathy; and five public members. Members shall not serve more than eight years consecutively. Monthly meetings, some committee meetings. Time commitment expected is one business day and one Saturday per month, plus preparation time. Conference Room A, 2829 University Ave SE, Minneapolis.

Help us heal you. Acupuncture for all.
Donate Here: http://www.gofundme.com/aomam-org

Licensed acupuncturists in Minnesota are nationally board certified medical practitioners, licensed by the Board of Medical Practice.

• Acupuncture is the insertion of any solid core needle into the body that is intended to elicit a therapeutic response.
• No other professional is as highly trained in all strategies for using acupuncture than a Licensed Acupuncturist.
• Acupuncture has been proven to effectively treat acute and chronic health conditions and diseases. It is less expensive and less invasive than many other standards of care.
• Acupuncturists are one of the only medical professionals trained in true preventive care including nutrition and lifestyle practices.
• The expertise of acupuncturists is highly recognized and they are being integrated by the top medical facilities in the country including serving our troops in our military hospitals.
• The Joint Commission recognizes acupuncture as a more effective resource for pain management than drug therapy.

The Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association of Minnesota (AOMAM) is a non-profit, professional organization of Licensed Acupuncturists who are dedicated to promoting the benefits of Acupuncture to all Minnesotans. We are educating our representatives and advocating for safe and affordable holistic healthcare via acupuncture.

HERE’S WHERE YOU COME IN! Your donation will help AOMAM do the following:

• Educate the public on the distinct benefits that only acupuncturists are trained to provide
• Ensure that patients are treated safely and effectively by Licensed Acupuncturists.
• Ensure acupuncture is covered by insurance companies to make it affordable for all acute and chronic conditions.
• Enable state representatives and professional colleagues to better understand that qualified integrative medical resources are available for better patient care today!

Make healthcare more accessible for you and your family! Make a donation today to help us reach our goal! Thank you.

Donate Here: http://www.gofundme.com/aomam-org

**Donations to this campaign are not eligible for tax deductions.