Attention: NJ Acupuncturists:

ALL HANDS-ON DECK: The Path to New Jersey Acupuncture Scope Expansion

The Problem

Over the last decade acupuncturists in New Jersey have been struggling with the catastrophic impact of:

• Extreme loss in Major Medical Insurance Coverage (and reimbursement) resulting in lost income for those who accept insurance.
  

• State Health Benefits Cuts which have significantly reduced or eliminated acupuncture benefits for state employees in New Jersey.

• Encroachment from Physical Therapists who can now legally practice acupuncture (as Dry Needling) in New Jersey with minimal training. This has resulted in lost income as PTs continue to try to poach patients seeking acupuncture
  

• The threat of Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Athletic Trainers also performing acupuncture dry needling which will continue to further dissolve our profession
  

• No meaningful improvements in our scope expansion in decades. As a result, we are contracting while our allied health care professionals are growing and expanding their scope.

THE POSSIBILITY

One very critical difference in our scope of practice between New Jersey and states like New Mexico and Florida is that in these states, AcuPoint Injection Therapy and IV Vitamin Therapy is legally permitted under their scope of practice. Injection therapy differs in that a hypodermic needle attached to a syringe is used to inject natural substances directly into the body at acupuncture points.

Acupuncture Injection Therapy provides significant benefits to patients and will enable us to provide better care for them.

Together, we can expand our scope here in New Jersey to increase revenue while improving patient outcomes. Increasing our scope will absolutely help:

• Create more job opportunities for our colleagues since this scope increases demand for AIT and IV Vitamin Therapy.
• Secure increased revenue from these new services to ensure that our colleagues thrive and have lucrative practices.
• Allow acupuncturists to order bloodwork and imaging to better serve our patients and be able to refer out to the appropriate allied health care provider when necessary.
• Allow us to have much-needed Acupuncture Assistants to help with adjunctive clinical modalities and remove needles from patients. Currently, only Licensed Acupuncturists can remove needles in New Jersey.

One very critical difference in our scope of practice between New Jersey and states like New Mexico and Florida is that in these states, AcuPoint Injection Therapy and IV Vitamin Therapy is legally permitted under their scope of practice. Injection therapy differs in that a hypodermic needle attached to a syringe is used to inject natural substances directly into the body at acupuncture points.

THE PATH

We consulted with O’Toole and Scrivo law firm who believe that we have a clear path to scope expansion for New Jersey Acupuncturists.

This will require fundraising for legal and lobbying efforts as well as continuing to get as many New Jersey Acupuncturists as possible to help with this initiative.

THE PLAN

WHO ARE WE?

The Acupuncture Coalition of New Jersey is a group of acupuncturists here in New Jersey who are seeking to expand our scope to include:

summary of our recent activity in 2024: