As used in this section and sections 20-206bb and 20-206cc:

(1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Health.

(2) “Department” means the Department of Public Health.

(3) “The practice of acupuncture” means the system of restoring and maintaining health by the classical and modern Oriental medicine principles and methods of assessment, treatment and prevention of diseases, disorders and dysfunctions of the body, injury, pain and other conditions. “The practice of acupuncture” includes:

(A) Assessment of body function, development of a comprehensive treatment plan and evaluation of treatment outcomes according to acupuncture and Oriental medicine theory;

(B) Modulation and restoration of normal function in and between the body's energetic and organ systems and biochemical, metabolic and circulation functions using stimulation of selected points by inserting needles, including, trigger point, subcutaneous and dry needling, and other methods consistent with accepted standards within the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession;

(C) Promotion and maintenance of normal function in the body's energetic and organ systems and biochemical, metabolic and circulation functions by recommendation of Oriental dietary principles, including, use of herbal and other supplements, exercise and other self-treatment techniques according to Oriental medicine theory; and

(D) Other practices that are consistent with the recognized standards of the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession and accepted by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

(4) “Recognized regional accrediting body” means one of the following regional accrediting bodies: New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

(P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; 95-321, S. 1; P.A. 11-242, S. 53.)

History: P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health in 1995 public and special acts, effective July 1, 1995; (Revisor's note: In 1999 a reference in Subdiv. (4) to “North Central Association of College and Schools” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “North Central Association of Colleges and Schools”); P.A. 11-242 amended Subdiv. (3) by replacing definition of “acupuncture” with definition of “the practice of acupuncture”.