I ROLL CALL

PRESENT Mark Matzen, Nita Raval, Roger Rossi, Edith Lee, Barbara Montana, Mimi Vassilev-Baker

ABSENT Shoshanna Katzman, Karen Wei-Ru Lin, Henry McCann

ALSO PRESENT Renee P. Clark, Executive Director Megan Cordoma, DAG

CALL TO ORDER The regular monthly meeting of the Acupuncture Examining Board was called to order at 124 Halsey Street at 10:00 a.m., all members having been notified of the time, date and, place and materials pertinent hereto having been provided.

SUNSHINE LAW In compliance with Chapter 231 the Public Law of 1975, notice of this was sent to the Courier-Post and the Record.

II. MINUTES

A motion was made by Nita Raval, and seconded by Mark Matzen to accept the April 16, 2008 minutes with amendments. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Nita Raval and seconded by Mark Matzen to accept the May 21, 2008 minutes with amendments. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

III. REGULATORY ANALYSIS

A. Draft bill received from Legislative Liaison Burt Liebman and the Board’s response.

The Board does not support any statutory changes which would lower the education standards of acupuncturists. Motion made by Mark Matzen, and seconded by Edith Lee. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

B. New Regulations
Discussion of tutorials
Discussion of practical exam

The Board created a committee, including Roger Rossi, Edith Lee, and Mimi Vassilev-Baker, to review the proposed regulations and report back to the Board at the next meeting.

IV. CORRESPONDENCE

A. Mitchell Green, attorney for Academy of Pain Research, sends correspondence requesting specific information from the Board.

Edith Lee made the motion, seconded by Mimi Vassilev-Baker, to send a letter to Mr. Green indicating that the Board continues to approve all schools listed on the 2003 approved list until the Board is able to obtain more comprehensive information. The Board vote to grant certification to all those applications who recently completed the Academy of Pain Research physician training program and who otherwise meet the Board’s criteria. The Board indicated that the Academy will continue to be an approved provider of physician acupuncture training pending the Board’s conclusion of evaluation of all schools. The Board anticipates that this evaluation will not be concluded until after January 2009. In the meantime, the Academy will continue to be considered an approved provider on any list distributed by the Board to its applicants. In addition to a review of the curriculum, the Board is considering changes to the New Jersey Acupuncture regulations dealing with physician acupuncture training. The motion to send this letter passed by unanimous vote.

B. Carmelo Milazzo, MD, sends correspondence requesting response regarding Academy of Pain Research.

Edith Lee made a motion, seconded by Nita Raval, to send a letter to Dr. Milazzo indicating that the Academy of Pain Research acupuncture program for physicians is currently a program that is approved by the Board, however, all such programs are currently being reevaluated by the Board.

V. APPLICATION REVIEW

Janna Rome

Barbara Montana made the motion, seconded by Mark Matzen, to table Ms. Rome’s application until next meeting for further review. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

IV. CORRESPONDENCE

A. Sent from the Association For Professional Acupuncture requesting Guest Acupuncturist

Edith Lee made the motion, seconded by Mimi Vassilev-Baker, to accept KiKo Matsumoto as Guest Acupuncturist. Motion carried by an unanimous vote.

B. Robert Chase, from the Consolidated Services Group, requests clarification regarding acupuncturist billing.

The Board determined that every patient evaluation entails appropriate evaluation and management. The Board does not make recommendations regarding the proper insurance documentation and reimbursement procedures. However, the Board must protect the public and so notes that any acupuncturist must be able to appropriately justify and billing codes used, although CPT codes and not within the purview of the Acupuncture Examining Board. Motion made by Mark Matzen, seconded by Barbara Montana, and carried by unanimous vote.

Nita Raval made a motion to proceed to Executive Session, and seconded by Mimi Vassilev-Baker, to discuss complaints and criminal history review.

Respectfully submitted,
Acupuncture Examining Committee

Renee P. Clark
Executive Director

Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Legal Statement | Accessibility Statement

division: dca home | complaint forms | licensing boards | adoptions | proposals | minutes | consumer protection

departmental: lps home | contact us | news | about us | FAQs | library | employment | programs and units | services a-z

statewide: nj home | my new jersey | people | business | government | departments | search