Physician Referral Requirement Removed from the Indiana Practice Act

by Jennifer Meador-Stone, LAc , Legislative Committee Chair IAAOM

Indiana had a victory this year! The Indiana Legislature passed an amendment that completely removes the physician referral requirement from the Indiana Practice Act.

The Indiana Practice Act originally passed in 1999 without requiring acupuncturists to have a referral from a physician to see an acupuncturist. The law was amended by the chiropractic lobby in 2003 to require a written referral, written diagnosis, and proof that the patient had been treated by a physician in the last 12 months for the condition for which the patient wanted treatment.

In 2007 an amendment was drafted by Rep. Peggy Welch from Bloomington and attached to a health professions bill. Though the bill had strong support, the bill did not pass in 2007 due to a technical error unrelated to acupuncture.

In January 2008, the amendment was attached to a similar health professions bill, passed the legislature in March, and was signed into law by Governor Mitch Daniels in April. Starting July 1st, 2008, the law will become effective, and acupuncturists will have direct access to patients in Indiana.