Maine Revised Statutes Title 32. Professions and Occupations § 12513-A. Scope of practice

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

2. Scope of practice. The scope of practice of acupuncturists includes acupuncture and the allied techniques and modalities of the distinct system of health care that use oriental principles to diagnose and treat illness, injury, pain and other conditions by regulating the flow and balance of energy to restore and maintain health. These allied techniques and modalities include the following, as defined by and used exclusively in accordance with the traditions and formal curricula taught in accredited colleges of acupuncture: oriental diagnostic procedures; electrical and magnetic stimulation; moxibustion and other forms of heat therapy; sound, light and vibrational therapy; cupping techniques and gua sha; recommendation and dispensing of Chinese patent remedies or Chinese premade herbal remedies and lifestyle and dietary counseling; formulation and dispensing of custom-made Chinese herbal formulations, to the extent that an acupuncturist has received additional certification pursuant to subsection 3; sotai; shiatsu; qi gong; zero balancing; tui na; and acupressure. These techniques and modalities do not include manipulation or mobilization of the skeletal articulations of the human body.

3. Additional certification. Certification is required for licensed acupuncturists to practice the formulation and dispensing of custom-made Chinese herbal formulations. “Formulation” means the preparation of traditional combinations of herbs to produce formulas from Chinese herbal literature, the modification of such traditional combinations or the writing of new formulas to address individual symptom presentations, through addition, deletion, substitution or change in dosages of ingredients and the dispensing of these herbal preparations to patients.

4. Practice by other persons. The listing of allied techniques and modalities in subsection 2, including acupressure and qi gong, may not be construed to require any person who practices the same or similar techniques or modalities to obtain a license as an acupuncturist under section 12511 and may not be construed to limit, interfere with or prevent any licensed person from practicing the same or similar techniques and modalities within the scope of that person's license, whether or not the defined scope of that license contains specific lists of techniques or modalities.