,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #aahb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #ac1 #bjai ,ms4 ,judy ,chu of ,california introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to ensure access to acupuncturist services through the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,acupuncture for ,our ,heroes ,act4 #b4 ,inclusion of acupuncturist services at veterans health facilities 7a7 ,acupuncturist services 7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ag of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #agbj;,j4 ,provision of acupuncturist services 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program to provide acupuncturist services to veterans enrolled in the health care system established under section #agje7;a7 of this title 7without the requirement of a referral74 7b7 ,locations ,the program under subsection 7a7 shall be carried out at in at least one facility of the ,department in each ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network4 ,in selecting such facilities1 the ,secretary shall ensure that the program is carried out in both urban and rural areas4 7c7 ,services available ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the acupuncturist services available under the program are able to address1 at a minimum1 the following3 7#a7 ,chronic and acute pain4 7#b7 ,cancer pain4 7#c7 ,postoperative nausea and vomiting4 7#d7 ,postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome4 7#e7 ,opioid-induced constipation4 7#f7 ,opioid-induced pruritus4 7#g7 ,chemotherapy-induced neuropathy4 7#h7 ,aromatase inhibitor-associated joint pain4 7#i7 ,neck dissection-related pain and dysfunction4 7#aj7 ,stress management4 7#aa7 ,mental health conditions4 7#ab7 ,substance abuse4 7#ac7 ,symptoms relating to traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress4 7d7 ,administration 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall carry out the program through-- 7,a7 qualified acupuncturists appointed as employees of the ,department located at medical centers and clinics of the ,department2 and 7,b7 through contract qualified acupuncturists if-- 7i7 the ,secretary is unable to make appointments described in subparagraph 7,a72 7ii7 a patient requires specialty care that an employee under such subparagraph is not able to provide to the patient2 or 7iii7 there is an emergency that requires the use of such a contract acupuncturist4 7#b7 ,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 services4 7#c7 ,in this section1 the term qualified acupuncturist means1 with respect to the furnishing of services in a ,state1 an individual who licensed or certified in the ,state in which the services are furnished1 or1 in the case of services furnished in a ,state that does not provide for such licensure or certification1 meets such criteria 7such as accreditation through an appropriate nationally recognized certification authority for acupuncturists7 as the ,secretary may specify4 ,in specifying such requirements1 the ,secretary may use the same requirements as those established by such a certification authority4 7e7 ,regulations ,the ,secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #agbj;,i the following new section3 #agbj;,j4 ,provision of acupuncturist services4 4 7#c7 ,conforming amendment ,section #agja7f7 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,h7 ,acupuncturist services in accordance with section #agbj;,j of this title4 4 7b7 ,advisory committee 7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,iii of chapter #e of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #edg4 ,advisory committee on acupuncturist services 7a7 ,acupuncture advisory committee 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the ,advisory ,committee on ,acupuncturist ,services 7in this section referred to as the ,committee7 to provide the ,secretary with assistance and advice in the development and implementation of the program established by section #agbj;,j of this title4 7#b7 ,the ,committee shall consist of members appointed by the ,secretary from the general public1 including-- 7,a7 not fewer than five practicing acupuncturists1 of which at least four shall be ,state licensed acupuncturists2 7,b7 one veteran from each of the ,armed ,forces2 and 7,c7 not fewer than two representatives from veterans service organizations4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,committee shall-- 7#a7 review and evaluate the ability of a veteran to access an acupuncturist at facilities of the ,department2 7#b7 advise the ,secretary with respect to-- 7,a7 protocols governing direct access to acupuncture care2 7,b7 protocols governing the scope of practice of acupuncture practitioners2 7,c7 the definitions of services to be provided by acupuncturists2 and 7,d7 such other matters the ,secretary determines appropriate2 and 7#c7 upon the determination of the ,secretary that the program of acupuncturist services under section #agbj;,j of this title has been fully implemented1 submit to the ,secretary a report containing the evaluation of the ,committee of the implementation of such program4 7c7 ,chairman ,the ,secretary shall designate one member of the ,committee to serve as the chairman of the ,committee4 7d7 ,meetings ,the ,committee shall meet at the call of the ,chairman1 but not fewer than three times during each fiscal year1 beginning in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which this section is enacted4 7e7 ,report ,following the date on which the ,committee submits to the ,secretary the report under subsection 7b77#d71 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,house of ,representatives a report containing the following3 7#a7 ,a copy of the ,committee report1 together with the comments of the ,secretary on the report4 7#b7 ,an explanation of the criteria and rationale that the ,secretary used to determine that the program of acupuncturist services under section #agbj;,j of this title was fully implemented1 as described in such subsection 7b77#d74 7#c7 ,the views of the ,secretary regarding the future implementation of such program4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #edf the following new item3 #edg4 ,advisory committee on acupuncturist services4 4 7c7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,authority for appointments ,section #gdja7a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting acupuncturists1 after chiropractors14 7#b7 ,period of appointments ,section #gdjc of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,i7 ,acupuncturists4 4 7#c7 ,pay ,section #gdjd of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7f7 ,the position of acupuncturist specified in section #gdja7a7 of this title shall be the grade of ,,gs-#ab or higher under the ,general ,schedule under section #eccb of title #e4 4 7#d7 ,malpractice and negligence suits ,section #gcaf7;a77#b7 of such title is amended by inserting acupuncturist1 after chiropractor14 7#e7 ,hours and conditions ,section #gdba7;b7 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#i7 ,acupuncturists4 4 7#f7 ,effective date ,the amendment made by paragraph 7#d7 apply with respect to services provided on or after the date that is #bgj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4