An Act To Allow Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists To Administer an Auricular Acupuncture Treatment for Addiction
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1105
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: PERRY, CLAXTON, BRENNAN, CRAVEN, DUNPHY, O'CONNOR, STOVER
Amends: 32 MRSA §12517

Legislative Document
No. 1105
H.P. 809
House of Representatives, March 5, 2019
An Act To Allow Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists To 
Administer an Auricular Acupuncture Treatment for Addiction
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PERRY of Calais.
Cosponsored by Senator CLAXTON of Androscoggin and
Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, CRAVEN of Lewiston, DUNPHY of Old Town, 
O'CONNOR of Berwick, STOVER of Boothbay.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §12517 is enacted to read:
§12517.  Auricular acupuncture detoxification; acupuncture detoxification 
specialists
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Acupuncture detoxification specialist" means an individual licensed in this State 
to practice auricular acupuncture detoxification.
B.  "Auricular acupuncture detoxification" means the subcutaneous insertion of 
sterile, disposable acupuncture needles in consistent, predetermined bilateral 
locations on the ear for the purpose of treatment of addiction.
2.  Auricular acupuncture detoxification.  Auricular acupuncture detoxification 
may not be provided by an individual other than a licensed acupuncturist or an 
acupuncture detoxification specialist and must be provided in accordance with standards 
established by an organization specializing in the training of auricular acupuncture 
detoxification approved by the board.
3.  Acupuncture detoxification specialist requirements.  An acupuncture 
detoxification specialist:
A.  May not perform acupuncture outside of the scope of auricular acupuncture 
detoxification;
B.  May provide auricular acupuncture detoxification only under the supervision of a 
licensed acupuncturist or an acupuncture detoxification specialist who is a member in 
good standing of an organization specializing in the training of auricular acupuncture 
detoxification approved by the board.  The supervising practitioner must, at a 
minimum, be immediately available through phone or electronic means during 
business hours and must conduct at least 2 in-person visits or visits through 
videoconferencing with the acupuncture detoxification specialist during the first year 
the supervising practitioner oversees the work of the acupuncture detoxification 
specialist; and
C.  May not use the title "acupuncturist" or represent that the acupuncture 
detoxification specialist is providing acupuncture services beyond the scope of 
auricular acupuncture detoxification.
4.  Licensure of acupuncture detoxification specialists.  The board shall license 
acupuncture detoxification specialists in accordance with the following.
A.  Applications for licensure under this section must be on forms provided by the 
board.  The board shall issue a license to an applicant who:
(1)  Provides documentation demonstrating that the applicant possesses a 
certificate of training in auricular acupuncture detoxification from an 
organization specializing in the training of auricular acupuncture detoxification 
approved by the board;
(2)  Is licensed in this State as a certified alcohol and drug counselor, licensed 
alcohol and drug counselor, physician, physician assistant, nurse, chiropractor, 
dentist, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, professional counselor, clinical 
professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, nurse practitioner, physical 
therapist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, podiatrist, psychologist, licensed 
social worker, conditional licensed social worker, licensed clinical social worker 
or licensed master social worker, conditional;
(3)  Identifies a practitioner who will be supervising the applicant in accordance 
with subsection 3, paragraph B; and
(4)  Submits the license fee established by the board by rule.
B.  Prior to the expiration of a license, a licensee may make an application for 
renewal. The board shall issue a renewal license to an applicant who:
(1)  Identifies a practitioner who will be supervising the applicant in accordance 
with subsection 3, paragraph B; and
(2)  Submits the renewal fee established by the board by rule.
An application for renewal made no more than 90 days past the date of expiration of 
a license must include a late fee in addition to the renewal fee.  The board shall 
establish the late fee by rule.  An application received more than 90 days past the 
expiration date is subject to all requirements covering new applicants under this 
section.
5.  Rulemaking.  The board shall adopt rules to implement and administer the 
provisions of this section.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of 
Complementary Health Care Providers to license acupuncture detoxification specialists 
and establishes standards for the provision of auricular acupuncture detoxification. The 
bill directs the board to adopt rules to implement the requirements.