CO SB207

Licensed mental health care professionals and Certified Addiction Counselor IIIs may perform auricular acudetox if they complete required training and provide documentation of qualification.

Auricular acudetox is defined as subcutaneous insertion of sterile, disposable acupuncture needles in five bilateral locations: sympathetic, shen men, kidney, liver, and lung.

Mental health professionals performing auricular acudetox may not use the title "acupuncturist" or claim qualification to perform acupuncture beyond the scope of this procedure.

Practitioners must successfully complete a training program meeting or exceeding standards established by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association or another director-approved organization for treating alcoholism, substance abuse, or chemical dependency.

$10,020 appropriated from the division of professions and occupations cash fund for fiscal year 2013: $3,840 for expert consulting and $6,180 for legal services; act takes effect July 1, 2013.