Utah Code § 58-72-102

Current through the 2024 Fourth Special Session

Section 58-72-102 - Acupuncture licensing - Definitions

In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102, as used in this chapter:

(1) "Board" means the Board of Massage Therapy and Acupuncture created in Section 58-47b-201 .

(2)

(a) "Injection therapy" means the use of a hypodermic needle, by a licensed acupuncturist who has obtained a clean needle technique certificate from the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), to inject any of the following sterile substances in liquid form into acupuncture points on the body subcutaneously or intramuscularly:

(i) a nutritional substance;

(ii) a local anesthetic;

(iii) autologous blood, if the licensee holds a current phlebotomy certification to draw blood;

(iv) sterile water;

(v) dextrose;

(vi) sodium bicarbonate; and

(vii) sterile saline.

(b) "Injection therapy" includes using ultrasound guidance to ensure that an injection is only a subcutaneous injection or an intramuscular injection.

(c) "Injection therapy" does not include injecting a substance into a vein, joint, artery, blood vessel, nerve, tendon, deep organ, or the spine.

(d) "Injection therapy" may not be performed on a pregnant woman or a child under the age of eight.

(3) "Licensed acupuncturist," designated as "L.Ac," means a person who has been licensed under this chapter to practice acupuncture.

(4) "Moxibustion" means a heat therapy that uses the herb moxa to heat acupuncture points of the body.

(5)

(a) "Practice of acupuncture" means the insertion of acupuncture needles, the use of injection therapy, and the application of moxibustion to specific areas of the body based on traditional oriental medical diagnosis and modem research as a primary mode of therapy.

(b) Adjunctive therapies within the scope of the practice of acupuncture may include:

(i) manual, mechanical, thermal, electrical, light, and electromagnetic treatments based on traditional oriental medical diagnosis and modem research;

(ii) the recommendation, administration, or provision of dietary guidelines, herbs, supplements, homeopathics, and therapeutic exercise based on traditional oriental medical diagnosis and modem research according to practitioner training; and

(iii) the practice described in Subsections (5)(a) and (b) on an animal to the extent permitted by:

(A) Subsection 58-28-307(12);

(B) the provisions of this chapter; and

(C) division rule.

(c) "Practice of acupuncture" does not include:

(i) the manual manipulation or adjustment of the joints of the body beyond the elastic barrier; or

(ii) the "manipulation of the articulation of the spinal column" as defined in Section 58-73-102.

(6) "Unprofessional conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-72-503, and as may be further defined by division rule.

Utah Code § 58-72-102

Amended by Chapter 507, 2024 General Session ,§ 96, eff. 10/1/2024.

Amended by Chapter 485, 2019 General Session ,§ 1, eff. 5/14/2019.

Amended by Chapter 88, 2012 General Session ,§ 1, eff. 5/8/2012.

Amended by Chapter 90, 2007 General Session

Affected by 63I-1-258 on 7/1/2027