ACUPUNCTURIST REGISTRATION S.B. 351 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 351 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Bev Hammerstrom
Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code and add Part 165 to the Code to provide for the registration of acupuncturists. The bill would do all of the following:
-- Establish a $75 application processing fee and an annual $150 registration fee.
-- Prohibit an individual from calling himself or herself an acupuncturist, or using certain other titles, without being registered.
-- Create the Michigan Board of Acupuncture within the Department of Community Health (DCH).
-- Require the DCH, in consultation with the Board, to promulgate rules setting forth the minimum standards for registration as an acupuncturist.
The bill would take effect January 1, 2006.
MCL 333.16131 et al. Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The State would incur costs associated with the administration, staffing, and per diem reimbursement for the Michigan Board of Acupuncture as well as the costs incurred in regulating the activities of registered acupuncturists in the State.
These costs would be offset by the $75 application processing fee for initial registration as an acupuncturist and the $150 annual registration fee for registered acupuncturists. While the number of individuals who would seek registration is not clear, previous discussions with the Michigan Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine suggested that about 200 individuals in the State currently meet the certification standards of the National Certifying Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, a national certifying body for acupuncture practitioners.
It may be expected that after the bill was enacted, the number of individuals meeting the registration requirements would increase, as those who practice acupuncture would have greater incentive to meet Michigan Board of Acupuncture standards and become registered.
Date Completed: 5-11-05 Fiscal Analyst: David Fosdick
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb351/0506