Acupuncture for Heroes and Seniors Act of 2017
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure access to qualified acupuncturist services for military members and military dependents, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure access to acupuncturist services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under the Medicare program; to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the appointment of qualified acupuncturists as officers in the commissioned Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act, except as otherwise provided:
The term qualified acupuncturist services means—
acupuncturist services—
that are furnished by a qualified acupuncturist; and
which the qualified acupuncturist is legally authorized to perform under State law; and
services and supplies that are furnished by a qualified acupuncturist incident to the services described in subparagraph (A).
The term qualified acupuncturist means an individual who is licensed or certified as an acupuncturist by a State or, in the case of an individual in a State that does not provide for such licensure or certification, meets such criteria (such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary of Health and Human Services may specify. In specifying such requirements, the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority.
The term State means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Sec. 3 Inclusion of acupuncture services through military health care system and TRICARE program
Members of the uniformed services—
In general— Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1074m the following new section:
“1074n. Provision of acupuncturist services
“(a) In general—In accordance with section 1074(c) of this title, and under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, members of the uniformed services entitled to medical care under section 1074 shall be entitled to qualified acupuncturist services (without the requirement of a referral) provided in a military medical treatment facility or a private facility by an acupuncturist who is licensed or certified in the State in which the facility is located, or, in the case of a facility in a State that does not provide for such licensure or certification, meets such criteria (such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary may specify. In specifying such requirements, the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority.
“(b) Civilian employees—The position of certified, trained acupuncturist for civilian employees in the Department of Defense shall be the grade of GS–12 or higher under the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1074m the following new item:
TRICARE program— Section 1079(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
in paragraph (12), by inserting “or paragraph (18)” after “except as authorized in paragraph (4)”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(18) Acupuncturist services may be provided without the requirement of a referral if performed by an acupuncturist who is licensed or certified in the State in which the services are furnished, or, in the case of services furnished in a State that does not provide for such licensure or certification, meets such criteria (such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary may specify. In specifying such requirements, the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority.”
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 4 Acupuncture health services for TRICARE program beneficiaries
Plan required— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall develop a plan to provide qualified acupuncturist services, as a permanent part of the TRICARE program pursuant to the amendments made by section 3, for covered beneficiaries (as defined in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code).
Contents of plan— The plan shall require that a contract entered into under section 1097 of title 10, United States Code, for the delivery of health care services shall—
include the delivery of qualified acupuncturist services;
require that qualified acupuncturist services may be provided only by a qualified acupuncturist; and
provide clarity on the process that a covered beneficiary must use to select and have direct access to a qualified acupuncturist (without the requirement of a referral).
Implementation of plan— The plan developed under subsection (a) shall provide for implementation of the plan to begin not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Submission— The Secretary shall submit to Congress the plan developed under subsection (a).
Sec. 5 Inclusion of acupuncturist services at veterans health facilities
Acupuncturist services—
In general— Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“1720H. Provision of acupuncturist services
“(a) In general—The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide acupuncturist services to veterans enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of this title (without the requirement of a referral).
“(b) Locations—The program under subsection (a) shall be carried out at in at least one facility of the Department in each Veterans Integrated Service Network. In selecting such facilities, the Secretary shall ensure that the program is carried out in both urban and rural areas.
“(c) Services available—The Secretary shall ensure that the acupuncturist services available under the program are able to address, at a minimum, the following:
“(1) Chronic and acute pain.
“(2) Cancer pain.
“(3) Postoperative nausea and vomiting.
“(4) Postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome.
“(5) Opioid-induced constipation.
“(6) Opioid-induced pruritus.
“(7) Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
“(8) Aromatase inhibitor-associated joint pain.
“(9) Neck dissection-related pain and dysfunction.
“(10) Stress management.
“(11) Mental health conditions.
“(12) Substance abuse.
“(13) Symptoms relating to traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress.
“(d) Administration
“(1) The Secretary shall carry out the program through—
“(A) qualified acupuncturists appointed as employees of the Department located at medical centers and clinics of the Department; and
“(B) through contract qualified acupuncturists if—
“(i) the Secretary is unable to make appointments described in subparagraph (A);
“(ii) a patient requires specialty care that an employee under such subparagraph is not able to provide to the patient; or
“(iii) there is an emergency that requires the use of such a contract acupuncturist.
“(2) The Secretary shall provide training and materials to health care providers of the Department who provide primary care to veterans to explain the benefits of acupuncturist services.
“(3) In this section, the term qualified acupuncturist means, with respect to the furnishing of services in a State, an individual who is licensed or certified in the State in which the services are furnished, or, in the case of services furnished in a State that does not provide for such licensure or certification, meets such criteria (such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists) as the Secretary may specify. In specifying such requirements, the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority.
“(e) Regulations—The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1720G the following new section:
Conforming amendment— Section 1701(6) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(H) Acupuncturist services in accordance with section 1720H of this title.”
Advisory committee—
In general— Subchapter III of chapter 5 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“547. Advisory committee on acupuncturist services
“(a) Acupuncture advisory committee
“(1) The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the “Advisory Committee on Acupuncturist Services” (in this section referred to as the “Committee”) to provide the Secretary with assistance and advice in the development and implementation of the program established by section 1720H of this title.
“(2) The Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Secretary from the general public, including—
“(A) not fewer than five practicing acupuncturists, of which at least four shall be State licensed acupuncturists;
“(B) one veteran from each of the Armed Forces;
“(C) not fewer than two representatives from veterans service organizations; and
“(D) a representative of the Department of Defense.
“(b) Duties—The Committee shall—
“(1) review and evaluate the ability of a veteran to access an acupuncturist at facilities of the Department;
“(2) advise the Secretary with respect to—
“(A) protocols governing direct access to acupuncture care;
“(B) protocols governing the scope of practice of acupuncture practitioners;
“(C) the definitions of services to be provided by acupuncturists; and
“(D) such other matters the Secretary determines appropriate; and
“(3) upon the determination of the Secretary that the program of acupuncturist services under section 1720H of this title has been fully implemented, submit to the Secretary a report containing the evaluation of the Committee of the implementation of such program.
“(c) Chairman—The Secretary shall designate one member of the Committee to serve as the chairman of the Committee.
“(d) Meetings—The Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman, but not fewer than three times during each fiscal year, beginning in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which this section is enacted.
“(e) Report—Following the date on which the Committee submits to the Secretary the report under subsection (b)(4), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing the following:
“(1) A copy of the Committee report, together with the comments of the Secretary on the report.
“(2) An explanation of the criteria and rationale that the Secretary used to determine that the program of acupuncturist services under section 1720H of this title was fully implemented, as described in such subsection (b)(4).
“(3) The views of the Secretary regarding the future implementation of such program.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 546 the following new item:
Conforming amendments—
Authority for appointments— Section 7401(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting “acupuncturists,” after “chiropractors,”.
Period of appointments— Section 7403 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(I) Acupuncturists.”
Pay—
Scale— Section 7404 of such title is amended—
in subsection (a)(2), by inserting “, acupuncturists,” after “physicians”; and
in the list in subsection (b), by inserting “, ACUPUNCTURIST,” after “PHYSICIAN”.
Treatment— Section 7431 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(i) Treatment of acupuncturists—For purposes of this subchapter, an acupuncturist is deemed to be a physician.”
Malpractice and negligence suits— Section 7316(a)(2) of such title is amended by inserting “acupuncturist,” after “chiropractor,”.
Hours and conditions— Section 7421(b) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(9) Acupuncturists.”
Effective date— The amendments made by paragraph (4) apply with respect to services provided on or after the date that is 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 6 Coverage for acupuncturist services under the Medicare program
in subsection (s)(2)—
by striking “and” at the end of subparagraph (EE);
by adding “and” at the end of subparagraph (FF); and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(GG) qualified acupuncturist services (as defined in subsection (iii)(1));”
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(iii) Qualified acupuncturist services
“(1) The term qualified acupuncturist services means such services furnished by a qualified acupuncturist (as defined in paragraph (2)), and such services and supplies furnished as an incident to services furnished by the qualified acupuncturist, as the qualified acupuncturist is legally authorized to perform under State law.
“(2) The term qualified acupuncturist has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Acupuncture for Heroes and Seniors Act of 2017.”
Payment rules—
Payment under physician fee schedule— Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting “(2)(GG),” before “(3),”.
Separate payment for services of institutional providers— Section 1833(a)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(2)(B)) is amended—
in clause (i), by inserting “and in the case of qualified acupuncturist services,” after “1999,”;
in clause (ii), by inserting “or in the case of qualified acupuncturist services,” after “1999,”; and
in clause (iii), by inserting “(other than qualified acupuncturist services)” after “such services”.
Qualified acupuncturist treatment as a practitioner— Section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
“(vii) A qualified acupuncturist (as defined in section 1861(iii)(2)).”
Separate billing for acupuncturist services furnished in an inpatient hospital setting— Section 1861(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(b)(4)) is amended by inserting “qualified acupuncturist services,” after “qualified psychologist services,”.
Effective date— The amendments made by this section apply with respect to services furnished on or after the date that is 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 7 Acupuncturists in the Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service
Authorization of appointment— Section 207 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 209) is amended—
in subsection (a)(1), by inserting “acupuncture,” after “nursing,”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(j) Appointment of qualified acupuncturists
“(1) Eligibility—Acupuncturists shall be eligible for appointment as officers in the commissioned Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service.
“(2) Qualification; training, equipment, and preparation—The Secretary shall ensure that acupuncturists in the commissioned Regular Corps and in the Ready Reserve Corps—
“(A) are qualified acupuncturists (as defined in section 2 of the Acupuncture for Heroes and Seniors Act of 2017); and
“(B) are trained, equipped, and otherwise prepared to fulfill applicable public health and emergency response service responsibilities in the Commissioned Corps.”
Required placement—
In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure the appointment of no fewer than 6 acupuncturists into the commissioned Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service.
Reports— Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter, the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on all measures taken by the President, the Surgeon General, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out the provisions of this section, including the amendments made by this section.