Bill allowing acupuncturists to treat injured workers advances

The New York State Senate on Wednesday is set to consider a bill that would permit acupuncturists to treat injured workers in the state’s workers compensation system, after the state Assembly passed the measure Tuesday night.

S.B. 6666, introduced by Sen. George Amedore, R-Albany, would alter the state’s workers compensation law to expand treatment options to include acupuncture, an alternative treatment for pain, by a licensed or certified practitioner.

The bill would require acupuncturists to file an application to treat injured workers and would also create a committee to approve such applications and to enact a fee schedule.

The bill also provides guidelines on how treatment is to progress: “No claim for acupuncture services shall be valid and enforceable as against the employer or employees unless within  forty-eight hours following the first treatment the acupuncturist giving such care or treatment furnishes to the employer and directly to the chair a preliminary notice of such injury and treatment, and within 15 days thereafter a more complete report and subsequent thereto progress reports as requested in writing by the chair, board, employer or insurance carrier, at  intervals of not less than three weeks apart or at less frequent intervals if requested on forms prescribed by the chair,” a draft states.