Career Path what to do after graduating from a School in TCM

[Guest guest]

When I get to the college's open house, what should I ask about

practicing after graduation? I am looking at websites of some other

nontradional practicioners and it seems that most have some training in

Western Medicine as well. Most often MDs but some chiropractors, too.

At least in my area.

 

Is there some objective information I can find on the practice of TCM in

Houston, TX? I suspect Texans are the more skeptical sort compared to

folks on either coast. I had a friend who was soooo skeptical about

chiropractic and finally she had a back problem. An MD gave just kept

giving her medication. Finally she went to a chiropractor and got

BETTER--immediately. And particularly western health practicioners are

spreading doubt, fear, crying quackery, etc. I have a friend who is an

allied health professional and she just has this knee jerk response to

the mere mention of the word " chiropractor. "

 

I may consider moving after graduation if there are locations in the US

or Canada that are more accepting of TCM.

 

Zen

[Guest guest]

Zenisis <findme@z...> wrote:

<snip>

> I am looking at websites of some other nontradional

> practicioners and it seems that most have some training in

> Western Medicine as well. Most often MDs but some

> chiropractors, too.

> At least in my area.

 

Surprise, surprise!

In Texas MD.s and osteopaths can practice acupuncture without

any additional training.

Chiropractors need some extra classes.

<http://www.acupuncture.com/statelaws/statelaw.htm>

 

Buyer beware!

 

To see a person who's specialty is acupuncture and actually

has training as an acupuncturist in Texas one needs a referral

from an MD, dentist, or chiropractor.

[Guest guest]

> To see a person who's specialty is acupuncture and actually

> has training as an acupuncturist in Texas one needs a referral

> from an MD, dentist, or chiropractor.

 

 

MT: do you mean in order for one to get one's insurance to pay?

im sure people can just go to an acupuncturist themselves if they want.

mercurius trismegistus

[Guest guest]

Thanks, I went to the medical examiner's board website and found these

exceptions:

 

/ " c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, an

acupuncturist holding a current and valid license may without an

evaluation or a referral from a physician, dentist, or chiropractor

perform acupuncture on a person for *smoking addiction, weight loss,

alcoholism, chronic pain, or substance abuse*. " /

 

Although, on the websites for TCM practioners without western medical

licenses (they were not MD, DO, Dentist or DC) there was no mention of

these restrictions. Hmmm!

 

Penel wrote:

 

> Zenisis <findme@z...> wrote:

> <snip>

> > I am looking at websites of some other nontradional

> > practicioners and it seems that most have some training in

> > Western Medicine as well. Most often MDs but some

> > chiropractors, too.

> > At least in my area.

>

> Surprise, surprise!

> In Texas MD.s and osteopaths can practice acupuncture without

> any additional training.

> Chiropractors need some extra classes.

> <http://www.acupuncture.com/statelaws/statelaw.htm>

>

> Buyer beware!

>

> To see a person who's specialty is acupuncture and actually

> has training as an acupuncturist in Texas one needs a referral

> from an MD, dentist, or chiropractor.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

> Post message: Chinese Traditional Medicine

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>

> Shortcut URL to this page:

> /community/Chinese Traditional Medicine

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

No, this was from the medical examiner's website. So I would assume you

were breaking the law if you practiced acupuncture for a " condition " for

which the client had not seen a MD or DO within a year, or a DC within

30 days.

 

Note that their definition of 'acupuncture' includes the use of needles,

moxibustion, herbs and even use of chinese dietary guidelines.

 

But definitions and diagnoses in Western and Eastern medicine are so

different I wonder if their is a wide work around for that.

 

Zen

 

 

 

 

Mercurius Trismegistus wrote:

 

> > To see a person who's specialty is acupuncture and actually

> > has training as an acupuncturist in Texas one needs a referral

> > from an MD, dentist, or chiropractor.

>

>

> MT: do you mean in order for one to get one's insurance to pay?

> im sure people can just go to an acupuncturist themselves if they want.

> mercurius trismegistus

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Post message: Chinese Traditional Medicine

> Subscribe: Chinese Traditional Medicine-

> Un: Chinese Traditional Medicine-

> List owner: Chinese Traditional Medicine-owner

>

> Shortcut URL to this page:

> /community/Chinese Traditional Medicine

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

When we had this referral issue in Illinios (after long years

of lobbying it was only recently dropped) the acupuncturists

would give you a form to get signed by your MD,

osteopath, chiropractor or dentist (as required in Illinois

at that time).

It wasn't the insurance companies that required it.

It was the law here in Illinois.

 

My daughter works for a vetrinarian. Though one never

needed a referral to get acupuncture on an animal here

in Illinois she told me several times people called trying

to get the referral signed for their dog or cat to receive

acupuncture.

They'd needed one when they had gotten acupuncture

on themself and thought the law included animals

getting acupuncture as well.

 

A couple acupuncturists that I'd seen didn't hand me that

referral request though.

I'm not sure if it was because they knew me as a student

of Asian med. or if it was that they'd been practicing

acupuncture since before it was legal in Illinois

(Acupuncture was a felony in Illinois for a while)

and since they hadn't been caught then still lived kind of

fearless of the law.

 

Many acupuncturists I know of practice the herbalism

of TCM.

Professional herbalism is illegal in Illinois unless one is

a nutritionist or one of the holy annointed (like MDs or

chiropractors).

Acupuncturists are still lobbying for the right to practice

herbalism here in Illinois.

 

I've been told moxibustion is illegal for acupuncturists to

do in Wisconsin and Ion Pumping Cords are illegal for

acupuncturists to use in California.

I wonder if there's any truth to that or just empty rumor.

 

Penel

 

 

 

> No, this was from the medical examiner's website. So I would assume you

> were breaking the law if you practiced acupuncture for a " condition " for

> which the client had not seen a MD or DO within a year, or a DC within

> 30 days.

>

> Note that their definition of 'acupuncture' includes the use of needles,

> moxibustion, herbs and even use of chinese dietary guidelines.

>

> But definitions and diagnoses in Western and Eastern medicine are so

> different I wonder if their is a wide work around for that.

>

> Zen

 

> > > To see a person who's specialty is acupuncture and actually

> > > has training as an acupuncturist in Texas one needs a referral

> > > from an MD, dentist, or chiropractor.

> > MT: do you mean in order for one to get one's insurance to pay?

> > im sure people can just go to an acupuncturist themselves if they want.

> > mercurius trismegistus

[Guest guest]

Well, I attended an open house last night and got the issue clarified.

If you have seen an MD or DO for a condition within the last 12 months,

or a DC within the last 30 days, that is sufficient. You don't need a

'referral' from the physician, per se. You just have to see one

regarding the condition. Unless of course, you see the acupuncturist

for one of the exempted conditions, weight loss, chronic pain, or

smoking cessation.

 

They also said that the law changed recently so that it required

insurance companies to cover acupunture from a licensed practioner if it

covered it from an MD, DO, or DC. Didn't make sense to cover it for a

doctor with no training but deny coverage from a practioner with four

years of training.

 

It is a year round, four year program. I would be in quite a bit of

debt afterwards. New graduates generally rent space from a doctor,

chiropractor or other acupuncturist, until they develop enough

clientele. Takes 3-5 years. I need to give it some thought.

 

Zen

 

Penel wrote:

 

> When we had this referral issue in Illinios (after long years

> of lobbying it was only recently dropped) the acupuncturists

> would give you a form to get signed by your MD,

> osteopath, chiropractor or dentist (as required in Illinois

> at that time).

> It wasn't the insurance companies that required it.

> It was the law here in Illinois.

>

> My daughter works for a vetrinarian. Though one never

> needed a referral to get acupuncture on an animal here

> in Illinois she told me several times people called trying

> to get the referral signed for their dog or cat to receive

> acupuncture.

> They'd needed one when they had gotten acupuncture

> on themself and thought the law included animals

> getting acupuncture as well.

>

> A couple acupuncturists that I'd seen didn't hand me that

> referral request though.

> I'm not sure if it was because they knew me as a student

> of Asian med. or if it was that they'd been practicing

> acupuncture since before it was legal in Illinois

> (Acupuncture was a felony in Illinois for a while)

> and since they hadn't been caught then still lived kind of

> fearless of the law.

>

> Many acupuncturists I know of practice the herbalism

> of TCM.

> Professional herbalism is illegal in Illinois unless one is

> a nutritionist or one of the holy annointed (like MDs or

> chiropractors).

> Acupuncturists are still lobbying for the right to practice

> herbalism here in Illinois.

>

> I've been told moxibustion is illegal for acupuncturists to

> do in Wisconsin and Ion Pumping Cords are illegal for

> acupuncturists to use in California.

> I wonder if there's any truth to that or just empty rumor.

>

> Penel

>

>

>

> > No, this was from the medical examiner's website. So I would assume you

> > were breaking the law if you practiced acupuncture for a " condition "

> for

> > which the client had not seen a MD or DO within a year, or a DC within

> > 30 days.

> >

> > Note that their definition of 'acupuncture' includes the use of

> needles,

> > moxibustion, herbs and even use of chinese dietary guidelines.

> >

> > But definitions and diagnoses in Western and Eastern medicine are so

> > different I wonder if their is a wide work around for that.

> >

> > Zen

>

> > > > To see a person who's specialty is acupuncture and actually

> > > > has training as an acupuncturist in Texas one needs a referral

> > > > from an MD, dentist, or chiropractor.

> > > MT: do you mean in order for one to get one's insurance to pay?

> > > im sure people can just go to an acupuncturist themselves if they

> want.

> > > mercurius trismegistus

>

>

 

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>

>

>