An Act To Permit Certain Health Care Practices
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1516
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: COURTNEY, BOLAND, MIRAMANT

Legislative Document 
No. 1516 
S.P.539 
March 20, 2007 
An Act To Permit Certain Health Care Practices 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator COURTNEY of York. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BOLAND of Sanford, MIRAMANT of Camden. 
Printed on recy<led _ 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA c. 137 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 137 
UNLICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTICES 
§17101. Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health and Human 
Services. 
2. 
Unlicensed health care client. 
"Unlicensed health care client" means an 
II 
individual who receives services from an unlicensed health care practitioner. 
3. Unlicensed health care practices. "Unlicensed health care practices" means the 
broad domain of unlicensed healing methods and treatments, including, but not limited to: 
A. Acupressure; 
B. Alexander technique; 
C. Aromatherapy; 
D. Ayurveda; 
E. Cranial sacral therapy; 
F. Emotional freedom technique; 
G. Detoxification practices and therapies; 
H. Energetic healing; 
I. Rolfing; 
J. Gerson therapy and colostrum therapy; 
K. Therapeutic touch; 
L. Herbology or herbal ism; 
M. Polarity therapy; 
N. Homeopathy; 
o. Nondiagnostic iridology; 
P. Body work; 
Q. Reiki; 
R. Mind-body healing practices; 
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S. Hydrotherapy; and 
LQigQng energy healing. 
"Unlicensed health care practices" does not include surgery; x-ray radiation; prescribing; 
administering or dispensing legend drugs and controlled substances; practices that invade 
the human body by puncture of the skin; setting fractures; any practice included in the 
practice of dentistry; the manipUlation or adjustment of articulations of joints or the spine, 
also known as chiropractic medicine; or the healing art of acupuncture. 
4. 
Unlicensed health care practitioner. 
"Unlicensed health care practitioner" 
means a person who: 
A. 
Is not licensed by a health-related licensing board under this Title or by the 
commissioner or holds a license issued by a health-related licensing board under this 
Title or by the commissioner but does not profess to the public to be licensed or 
registered under this Title or by the commissioner when engaging in unlicensed 
health care practices; 
B. Has not had a license issued by a health-related licensing board under this Title or 
by the commissioner revoked or suspended without reinstatement; 
C. Is engaging in unlicensed health care practices; and 
D. Is providing unlicensed health care practices for remuneration or is professing to 
the public to be a practitioner of unlicensed health care practices. 
§17102. Application 
This chapter does not apply to, control, prevent or restrict the practice, service or 
activity of lawfully marketing or distributing food products, including dietary 
supplements as defined in the federal Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 
1994, 21 United States Code, Section 321(ff), educating customers about those products 
or explaining the uses of those products. An unlicensed health care practitioner may not 
provide a medical diagnosis. 
§17103. Jurisdiction 
A health care practitioner licensed or registered by a health-related licensing board 
under this Title or by the commissioner who engages in unlicensed health care practices 
while practicing under the practitioner'S license or registration is regulated by and is 
under the jurisdiction of the applicable health-related licensing board with regard to the 
unlicensed health care practices. 
§17104. Authorized to practice 
Subject to the provisions of this chapter, a person in this State may practice as an 
unlicensed health care practitioner and receive remuneration for that person's services. 
Pag~ 2 - i23LR1379(OI)-1 
SUMMARY 
This bill authorizes a person to practice as an unlicensed health care practitioner in 
this State.