Acupuncture for Heroes and Seniors Act of 2019

To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure access to qualified acupuncturist services for military members and military dependents, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure access to acupuncturist services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under the Medicare program; to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the appointment of qualified acupuncturists as officers in the commissioned Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Acupuncture for Heroes and Seniors Act of 2019 (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. Sec. 3. Inclusion of acupuncture services through military health care system and TRICARE program. Sec. 4. Acupuncture health services for TRICARE program beneficiaries. Sec. 5. Appointment of acupuncturists as commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. Sec. 6. Inclusion of acupuncturist services at veterans health facilities. Sec. 7. Coverage for acupuncturist services under the Medicare program. Sec. 8. Acupuncturists in the Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. 2. Definitions In this Act, except as otherwise provided: (1) The term qualified acupuncturist services (A) acupuncturist services— (i) that are furnished by a qualified acupuncturist; and (ii) which the qualified acupuncturist is legally authorized to perform under State law; and (B) services and supplies that are furnished by a qualified acupuncturist incident to the services described in subparagraph (A). (2) The term qualified acupuncturist (3) The term State 3. Inclusion of acupuncture services through military health care system and TRICARE program (a) Members of the uniformed services (1) In general Chapter 55 section 1074o 1074p. Provision of acupuncturist services In accordance with section 1074(c) of this title, and under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, members of the uniformed services entitled to medical care under section 1074 shall be entitled to qualified acupuncturist services (without the requirement of a referral) provided in a military medical treatment facility or a private facility by an acupuncturist who is licensed or certified in the State in which the facility is located, or, in the case of a facility in a State that does not provide for such licensure or certification, meets such criteria (such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary may specify. In specifying such requirements, the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1074o the following new item: 1074p. Provision of acupuncturist services. . (b) TRICARE program Section 1079(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (12), by inserting or paragraph (18) except as authorized in paragraph (4) (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (18) Acupuncturist services may be provided without the requirement of a referral if performed by an acupuncturist who is licensed or certified in the State in which the services are furnished, or, in the case of services furnished in a State that does not provide for such licensure or certification, meets such criteria (such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary may specify. In specifying such requirements, the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 4. Acupuncture health services for TRICARE program beneficiaries (a) Plan required Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall develop a plan to provide qualified acupuncturist services, as a permanent part of the TRICARE program pursuant to the amendments made by section 3, for covered beneficiaries (as defined in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code). (b) Contents of plan The plan shall require that a contract entered into under section 1097 of title 10, United States Code, for the delivery of health care services shall— (1) include the delivery of qualified acu­punc­tur­ist services; (2) require that qualified acupuncturist services may be provided only by a qualified acupuncturist; and (3) provide clarity on the process that a covered beneficiary must use to select and have direct access to a qualified acupuncturist (without the requirement of a referral). (c) Implementation of plan The plan developed under subsection (a) shall provide for implementation of the plan to begin not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Submission The Secretary shall submit to Congress the plan developed under subsection (a). 5. Appointment of acupuncturists as commissioned officers in the Armed Forces (a) Army Section 7068 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting (a) Medical service corps.— There is (2) in paragraph (5)— (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking and (B) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph: (E) the Acupuncture Section; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) Appointment of acupuncturists Acupuncturists who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army may be appointed as commissioned officers in the Acupuncture Section of the Medical Service Corps of the Army. Such regulations shall require such acupuncturists to be licensed or certified in the State in which the services are furnished, or, in the case of services furnished in a State that does not provide for such licensure or certification, meets such criteria (such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary of the Army may specify. In specifying such requirements, the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority. . (b) Navy (1) In general Chapter 809 of such title is amended by inserting after section 8079 the following new section: 8080. Appointment of acupuncturists in the Medical Service Corps Acupuncturists who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy may be appointed as commissioned officers in the Medical Service Corps of the Navy. Such regulations shall require such acupuncturists to be licensed or certified in the State in which the services are furnished, or, in the case of services furnished in a State that does not provide for such licensure or certification, meets such criteria (such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary of the Navy may specify. In specifying such requirements, the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8079 the following new item: 8080. Appointment of acupuncturists in the Medical Service Corps. . (c) Air force Section 9067(f) of such title is amended— (1) by striking physician assistant functions and chiropractic functions physician assistant functions, chiropractic functions, and acupuncturist functions (2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: Biomedical service officers may be referred to as the specific career designation, including chiropractic services officer and acupuncturist services officer. (d) Regulations The regulations required to be prescribed by the amendments made by this section shall be prescribed not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 6. Inclusion of acupuncturist services at veterans health facilities (a) Acupuncturist services (1) In general Subchapter II of chapter 17 1720J. Provision of acupuncturist services (a) In general The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide acupuncturist services to veterans enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of this title (without the requirement of a referral). (b) Locations The program under subsection (a) shall be carried out at in at least one facility of the Department in each Veterans Integrated Service Network. In selecting such facilities, the Secretary shall ensure that the program is carried out in both urban and rural areas. (c) Services available The Secretary shall ensure that the acupuncturist services available under the program are able to address, at a minimum, the following: (1) Chronic and acute pain. (2) Cancer pain. (3) Postoperative nausea and vomiting. (4) Postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome. (5) Opioid-induced constipation. (6) Opioid-induced pruritus. (7) Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. (8) Aromatase inhibitor-associated joint pain. (9) Neck dissection-related pain and dysfunction. (10) Stress management. (11) Mental health conditions. (12) Substance abuse. (13) Symptoms relating to traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. (d) Administration (1) The Secretary shall carry out the program through— (A) qualified acupuncturists appointed as employees of the Department located at medical centers and clinics of the Department; and (B) through contract qualified acupuncturists if— (i) the Secretary is unable to make appointments described in subparagraph (A); (ii) a patient requires specialty care that an employee under such subparagraph is not able to provide to the patient; or (iii) there is an emergency that requires the use of such a contract acupuncturist. (2) The Secretary shall provide training and materials to health care providers of the Department who provide primary care to veterans to explain the benefits of acupuncturist services. (3) In this section, the term qualified acupuncturist (e) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1720I the following new section: 1720J. Provision of acupuncturist services. . (3) Conforming amendment Section 1701(6) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (H) Acupuncturist services in accordance with section 1720J of this title. . (b) Advisory committee (1) In general Subchapter III of chapter 5 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 547. Advisory committee on acupuncturist services (a) Acupuncture advisory committee (1) The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Acupuncturist Services Committee (2) The Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Secretary from the general public, including— (A) not fewer than five practicing acu­punc­tur­ists, of which at least four shall be State licensed acupuncturists; (B) one veteran from each of the Armed Forces; (C) not fewer than two representatives from veterans service organizations; and (D) a representative of the Department of Defense. (b) Duties The Committee shall— (1) review and evaluate the ability of a veteran to access an acupuncturist at facilities of the Department; (2) advise the Secretary with respect to— (A) protocols governing direct access to acupuncture care; (B) protocols governing the scope of practice of acupuncture practitioners; (C) the definitions of services to be provided by acupuncturists; and (D) such other matters the Secretary determines appropriate; and (3) upon the determination of the Secretary that the program of acupuncturist services under section 1720H of this title has been fully implemented, submit to the Secretary a report containing the evaluation of the Committee of the implementation of such program. (c) Chairman The Secretary shall designate one member of the Committee to serve as the chairman of the Committee. (d) Meetings The Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman, but not fewer than three times during each fiscal year, beginning in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which this section is enacted. (e) Report Following the date on which the Committee submits to the Secretary the report under subsection (b)(4), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing the following: (1) A copy of the Committee report, together with the comments of the Secretary on the report. (2) An explanation of the criteria and rationale that the Secretary used to determine that the program of acupuncturist services under section 1720J of this title was fully implemented, as described in such subsection (b)(4). (3) The views of the Secretary regarding the future implementation of such program. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 546 the following new item: 547. Advisory committee on acupuncturist services. . (c) Conforming amendments (1) Authority for appointments Section 7401(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting acupuncturists, chiropractors, (2) Period of appointments Section 7403 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (I) Acupuncturists. . (3) Pay (A) Scale Section 7404 of such title is amended— (i) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting , acupuncturists, physicians (ii) in the list in subsection (b), by inserting , ACUPUNCTURIST, PHYSICIAN (B) Treatment Section 7431 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Treatment of acupuncturists For purposes of this subchapter, an acupuncturist is deemed to be a physician. . (4) Malpractice and negligence suits Section 7316(a)(2) of such title is amended by inserting acupuncturist, chiropractor, (5) Hours and conditions Section 7421(b) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (9) Acupuncturists. . (6) Effective date The amendments made by paragraph (4) apply with respect to services provided on or after the date that is 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 7. Coverage for acupuncturist services under the Medicare program (a) In general Section 1861 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x (1) in subsection (s)(2)— (A) by striking and (B) by adding and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (II) qualified acupuncturist services (as defined in subsection (jjj)(1)); ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (jjj) Qualified acupuncturist services (1) The term qualified acupuncturist services (2) The term qualified acupuncturist Acupuncture for Heroes and Seniors Act of 2019 . (b) Payment rules (1) Payment under physician fee schedule Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(j)(3) (2)(GG), (3), (2) Separate payment for services of institutional providers Section 1833(a)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(2)(B) (A) in clause (i), by inserting and in the case of qualified acupuncturist services, 1999, (B) in clause (ii), by inserting or in the case of qualified acupuncturist services, 1999, (C) in clause (iii), by inserting (other than qualified acupuncturist services) such services (3) Qualified acupuncturist treatment as a practitioner Section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C) (vii) A qualified acupuncturist (as defined in section 1861(jjj)(2)). . (4) Separate billing for acupuncturist services furnished in an inpatient hospital setting Section 1861(b)(4) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(b)(4) qualified acupuncturist services, qualified psychologist services, (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section apply with respect to services furnished on or after the date that is 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 8. Acupuncturists in the Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service (a) Authorization of appointment Section 207 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 209 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting acupuncture, nursing, (2) by adding at the end the following: (j) Appointment of qualified acupuncturists (1) Eligibility Acupuncturists shall be eligible for appointment as officers in the commissioned Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. (2) Qualification; training, equipment, and preparation The Secretary shall ensure that acupuncturists in the commissioned Regular Corps and in the Ready Reserve Corps— (A) are qualified acupuncturists (as defined in section 2 of the Acupuncture for Heroes and Seniors Act of 2019 (B) are trained, equipped, and otherwise prepared to fulfill applicable public health and emergency response service responsibilities in the Commissioned Corps. . (b) Required placement (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure the appointment of no fewer than 6 acupuncturists into the commissioned Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. (2) Reports Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter, the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on all measures taken by the President, the Surgeon General, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out the provisions of this section, including the amendments made by this section.

Summary: Acupuncture for Heroes and Seniors Act of 2019 This bill expands access to acupuncturist services, particularly for veterans and seniors. Specifically, the bill requires the provision of qualified acupuncturist services for veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system and military members and their dependents under the TRICARE program. A qualified acupuncturist is an individual who is licensed, certified, or otherwise accredited to perform acupuncture services. The bill also entitles military members and their dependents to qualified acupuncturist services under the TRICARE program without a referral, even if such services are not medically or psychologically necessary to prevent, diagnose, or treat an issue. The VA must implement a program to provide acupuncturist services in at least one VA facility in each Veterans Integrated Service Network in both urban and rural areas. Such services must be available to veterans enrolled in the VA health care system without the requirement of a referral. The VA must also establish the Advisory Committee on Acupuncturist Services to assist with the implementation of the VA acupuncturist program. The VA must pay acupuncturists equivalently with how it pays physicians. The bill provides for coverage for qualified acupuncturist services under the Medicare program and prescribes benefit amounts and payment rules depending on the circumstances of the service. The bill also makes acupuncturists eligible for appointment as (1) commissioned officers in the Armed Forces, and (2) officers in the commissioned Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service.