(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1720I. Provision of acupuncturist services 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
program to provide acupuncturist services to veterans en-
rolled in the health care system established under section 
1705(a) of this title (without the requirement of a refer-
ral). 
‘‘(b) LOCATIONS.—The program under subsection (a) 
shall be carried out at in at least one facility of the De-
partment 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 en-
sure 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. 
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‘‘(9) Neck dissection-related pain and dysfunc-
tion. 
‘‘(10) Stress management. 
‘‘(11) Mental health conditions. 
‘‘(12) Substance abuse. 
‘‘(13) Symptoms relating to traumatic brain in-
jury and post-traumatic stress. 
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATION.—(1) The Secretary shall 
carry out the program through— 
‘‘(A) qualified acupuncturists appointed as em-
ployees 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 ap-
pointments 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 mate-
rials to health care providers of the Department who pro-
vide primary care to veterans to explain the benefits of 
acupuncturist services. 
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‘‘(3) 
In 
this 
section, 
the 
term 
‘qualified 
acupuncturist’ means, with respect to the furnishing of 
services in a State, an individual who 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 pro-
vide 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 require-
ments, the Secretary may use the same requirements as 
those established by such a certification authority. 
‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations to carry out this section.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1720H 
the following new section: 
‘‘1720I. 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 1720I of this title.’’. 
(b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
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(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 Serv-
ices’ (in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’) to 
provide the Secretary with assistance and advice in the 
development and implementation of the program estab-
lished by section 1720I of this title. 
‘‘(2) The Committee shall consist of members ap-
pointed by the Secretary from the general public, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(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; and 
‘‘(C) not fewer than two representatives from 
veterans service organizations. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Committee shall— 
‘‘(1) review and evaluate the ability of a veteran 
to access an acupuncturist at facilities of the De-
partment; 
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‘‘(2) advise the Secretary with respect to— 
‘‘(A) protocols governing direct access to 
acupuncture care; 
‘‘(B) protocols governing the scope of prac-
tice of acupuncture practitioners; 
‘‘(C) the definitions of services to be pro-
vided by acupuncturists; and 
‘‘(D) such other matters the Secretary de-
termines appropriate; and 
‘‘(3) upon the determination of the Secretary 
that the program of acupuncturist services under 
section 1720I of this title has been fully imple-
mented, submit to the Secretary a report containing 
the evaluation of the Committee of the implementa-
tion 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 dur-
ing 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 sub-
section (b)(4), the Secretary shall submit to the Commit-
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tees 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 ration-
ale that the Secretary used to determine that the 
program of acupuncturist services under section 
1720I of this title was fully implemented, as de-
scribed in such subsection (b)(4). 
‘‘(3) The views of the Secretary regarding the 
future implementation of such program.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions 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,’’ after ‘‘chiroprac-
tors,’’. 
(2) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENTS.—Section 7403 
of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(I) Acupuncturists.’’. 
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(3) PAY.—Section 7404 of such title is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(f) The position of acupuncturist specified in section 
7401(1) of this title shall be the grade of GS–12 or higher 
under the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 
5.’’. 
(4) MALPRACTICE AND NEGLIGENCE SUITS.— 
Section 7316(a)(2) of such title is amended by in-
serting ‘‘acupuncturist,’’ after ‘‘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 pro-
vided on or after the date that is 270 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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