Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 30 - Professions and Occupations › Part 2625 - Acupuncturist › Chapter 1 - The Practice of Acupuncture › Rule 30-2625-1.1 - Scope

Current through June 25, 2024
The following rules pertain to acupuncture practitioners
				  performing the technique of acupuncture. Except as otherwise provided below,
				  the practitioner may perform acupuncture on a patient only if the patient was
				  evaluated by a physician, as appropriate, for the condition being treated
				  within six (6) months before the date that acupuncture is performed. The Board
				  with advice from the Mississippi Council of Advisors in Acupuncture, may by
				  rule modify the scope of the evaluation under this paragraph or the period
				  during which treatment must begin under this paragraph.
The practitioner must obtain a written statement signed by
				  the patient on a form prescribed by the Board stating that the patient has been
				  evaluated by a physician within the prescribed time. The form must contain a
				  clear statement that the patient should be evaluated by a physician for the
				  condition being treated by the practitioner.
A practitioner may, without an evaluation from a physician,
				  perform acupuncture on a patient for:
A. smoking addiction;
B. weight loss; or
C. substance abuse, to the extent permitted
				by the Board, with advice from the Mississippi Council of Advisors in
				Acupuncture.
While treating a patient, the practitioner shall not make a
				  medical diagnosis, but may provide pattern differentiation according to
				  Traditional Chinese Medicine. If a patient's condition is not improving or a
				  patient requires emergency medical treatment, the practitioner shall consult
				  promptly with a physician.
Acupuncture may be performed in the state of Mississippi by
				  a physician licensed to practice medicine and adequately trained in the art and
				  science of acupuncture. Adequately trained will be defined as a minimum of 200
				  hours of AMA or AOA approved Category I CME in the field of acupuncture. Such
				  licensed individuals wishing to utilize acupuncture in their practice may do so
				  provided that any and all portions of the acupuncture treatment are performed
				  by the person so licensed and no surrogate is authorized in this state to serve
				  in his or her stead. The practice of acupuncture by a physician should follow
				  the same quality of standard that the physician, or any other physician in his
				  or her community, would render in delivering any other medical treatment. The
				  applicable standard of care shall include all elements of a doctor-patient
				  relationship. The elements of this valid relationship are:
A. verify that the person requesting the
				medical treatment is in fact who they claim to be;
B. conduct an appropriate examination of the
				patient that meets the applicable standard of care and is sufficient to justify
				the differential diagnosis and proposed therapies;
C. establish a differential diagnosis through
				the use of accepted medical practices, i.e., a patient history, mental status
				exam, physical exam and appropriate diagnostic and laboratory testing;
D. discuss with the patient the
				diagnosis, risks and benefits of various treatment options and obtain informed
				consent;
E. insure the
				availability of appropriate follow-up care including use of traditional
				medicine; and
F. maintain a
				complete medical record.
The Board of Medical Licensure must have on file copies of
				  required CME prior to any Mississippi licensed physician being approved to
				  provide treatment by acupuncture. Licensees approved by the Mississippi State
				  Board of Medical Licensure to practice acupuncture prior to January 2011 shall
				  not be required to meet the aforementioned CME requirements.
Miss. Code Ann. §
										73-71-13
				  (1972, as amended).