Dear Florida Acupuncture Physician,

Having a unified and active membership in your professional organization is vital to its advancement. 

Ø     The Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) has 80% of its active licensees as members, FSOMA has 15%.  The FCA is the strongest, most powerful state chiropractic group in the entire US.  It speaks as one voice.  Is it any wonder they were able to get a certification in acupuncture for their profession?

Ø     The Florida Medical Association (FMA) has 20, 000 members and is the biggest and most powerful health care group in the State.

Ø     5, 000 massage therapists have joined their professional organization in Florida.    Even though their participation rate is low they have strength in numbers!

Ø     The FSOMA is the largest, most organized and best recognized Oriental Medical Association in Florida, we are striving to obtain 50% of acupuncturists as members.

When these groups have a political agenda they are powerful. 

 

FSOMA has been building ties with other medical professions in order to be able to ask for support when it is needed and appropriate.  Osteopaths are a growing profession in the state.  FSOMA has a good relationship with FOMA having had booths at their conferences to teach DO’s about our education and scope of practice.  We actively encouraged them to look up on the FSOMA website for acupuncture referrals in their areas.  This past year when we had grave concerns with the PT bill (which could have led to PT’s getting acupuncture in the form of “Dry needling”) the DO’s partnered with us to register their concerns and the attempt was blocked.

•      In California they have 18 Oriental Medicine professional groups divided along almost any ethnic or belief you can imagine.  They have no political clout.  When their practice act was up for renewal they had no say in what happened.   They are unable to effectively deal with threats to their profession.

•     In Florida, there is another professional group made up of Asian practitioners (The Florida Acupuncture AOM group which has worked closely at times with FSOMA).  Recently, the Florida Society for Doctors of Oriental Medicine formed, they are by their own advertising, a for-profit group.

To be strong politically we must unite as a profession, it’s time for the divisions to stop.

 

FSOMA is YOUR professional association.  Things you can do:

1.    Join FSOMA or if already a member, tell your colleagues that joining FSOMA is a must.  If there are misconceptions, negative ideas, questions, or concerns about FSOMA, call someone on the board to get the facts.  We are not the same organization we were 10 years ago.  We are stronger and better every day and work hard to improve ourselves and the profession.

2.     Share your ideas, concerns and thoughts with the FSOMA board and office.

a.     Come to a FSOMA board meeting, to listen, to learn and to voice your opinions.

b.     Contact anyone on the board and talk to them about your issues and ideas.  http://www.fsoma.com/bod.html gives everyone’s picture and e-mail.  If you need a phone number and want to call, contact the FSOMA office 800-578-4865 and they will get you connected.

c.     Join a Committee, get some fellowship and get involved.  There is strength and energy in numbers!

3.     Get involved politically.  Plan on visiting your state representative.  Ask a FSOMA board member to come along for support if you need it. Letting politicians know about what you do, your education and scope of practice can build your practice as well as the profession.  Many politicians know nothing about us!     

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FSOMA FACTS

FSOMA is the only non-profit professional association for Acupuncture and OM in the state of Florida that:

•      is a non-profit professional association 501c (6) formed in 1982  Since 2003 FSOMA has been building a reputation as the most active and engaged State association in the nation.  Other states look to us to model their acupuncture associations.

•      has a healthcare lobbying firm working in Tallahassee to protect the interests of Acupuncturists.  Currently they observe all the legislation being proposed and alert us to that which might affect our profession and are working with the FSOMA Board to develop political alliances and strategies for the future. 

•      is a group member of AAAOM, and through them financially supports a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. working to help acupuncturists be a part of the national healthcare system.  We are actively involved on the national level to keep up with areas of concern for practitioners in Florida.

•      is working with the World Health Organization to integrate Chinese Medicine into ICD 11 which will have specific codes for Oriental Medicine diseases and treatments.

•       whose Board members attend ALL BOA meetings and speak on behalf of the profession when needed.

•      attended and testified before the Joint Administrative Procedural Committee when our Board rules were challenged.

•      is actively involved in coalition building and getting to know other medical professions in the state.  We have had a booth at the DO and LMT state conferences to encourage referral to AP’s by DO’s.  Many other professions have no idea the scope of our training and the scope of what we can treat.  Education and partnering are key.  If they knew the hours needed to be effective at this medicine they would be less likely to try and do it themselves AND will have met a referral source in the process of becoming educated.

•      has members who are allowed by Bylaws and in fact encouraged to attend decision-making FSOMA Board meetings and make their voices heard.  These Bylaws govern the actions of the FSOMA Board; there is transparency in our operations and the minutes of all our Board meetings which include the Treasurer’s report are posted on the website for review by members.

•      has a professional management company to run the day to day operations.

•      has a mature and stable board of directors; we have processes in place to make sure members volunteering to run for office know the scope of their duties and responsibilities.

•      Is a volunteer board whose members are just like you, they know the struggles and issues we all face.  If you feel your concerns are not being addressed, please contact one of them.  They are all volunteers with high passion for the profession.  To see a list of who is currently on the board and how to contact them, go to http://www.fsoma.com/bod.html or call the FSOMA office at 800-578-4865.

 

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Future Areas of Concern and Action

Ø     Our practice act will “sunset” in 2014.  Generally this is not a problem and the Board of Acupuncture under the Department of Health does the legwork to renew it.  It is however a time when changes could be made to our practice act.  We have one of the best and broadest scopes of practice in the country.  FSOMA is diligently watching and ready to jump in if needed to protect us.

Ø     We will continue to block attempts by PT’s to maneuver and gain the ability to give acupuncture treatments disguised as “dry needling” and address chiropractor, massage and MD use of OM when possible.

Ø     FSOMA will continue to offer free and low cost CEU’s, business panels and business building classes as well as political action coaching to its members.

Ø     The insurance companies in 2009 wanted to totally abolish PIP.  We expect they will make another attempt to eliminate PIP.  FSOMA will be at the table to expand your opportunities to participate in PIP.

Ø     FSOMA will continue to pay for and staff Exhibits at Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) Conferences around the state, and plans to expand this to other professions as well.

Ø     More help is needed.  You can meet other health practitioners in your area, let them know about our training, about conditions we can treat, ask for referrals.  This is great for the profession as well as for your practice.

Oriental Medicine, as with many young professions has had division and turmoil.  In Florida we have had a practice act since 1982 and FSOMA has been there from the beginning.  After almost 30 years it’s time for the Oriental Medicine profession to mature and unify.  Our mission is to promote the profession of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine through clinical excellence, practitioner support and freedom of public access.

Please ask your fellow practitioners to join FSOMA, together we can grow the profession and our practices.