Colorado Legislative Update

By Nancy Bilello, LAc, RN

Colorado is currently involved in several legislative activities.

Good news: last May a Colorado acupuncturist had a complaint filed against her for using a laser machine. The complaint alleged that the laser was not part of AOM and that the practitioner’s use of the machine was outside her scope of practice. A second complaint was also filed with the Board of Medical Examiners claiming she was practicing medicine without a license. Valerie Hobbs and I investigated the complaints and sent research about laser acupuncture to the Dept. of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). After waiting almost six months for a decision, we are very happy to report that DORA has found in favor of the practitioner, stating no violation of our practice act was in evidence. The complaint was dropped. Subsequently, the Board of Medical Examiners also tabled the complaint.

In the coming legislative session, we will be working with legislators and chiropractors in our state to ensure fair language and practice policies in the upcoming Chiropractic Sunset Review Report.

We also plan to pursue an insurance parity bill.

We will submit updates on these activities to the Qi Unity Report as we have them.

Nancy Bilello is the President and Legislative Chair of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado.