Northwestern Health Sciences University Students Lobby for Equal Access Acupuncture Amendment at State Capitol

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - More than 60 students, faculty and staff from the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MCAOM) at Northwestern Health Sciences University lobbied for equal access at the state capitol in St. Paul on March 4. The event was jointly organized with the Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAOM).

“We want to make an amendment to the current bill that adds a clause ensuring those seeking acupuncture treatment are also reimbursed for health care costs the way they are for visits to medical doctors and chiropractors,” said Hilary Patzer, a T5 MCAOM student and co-organizer of the event. “We just want the public to have equal access to us.”

Patzer, along with Robert Lowe, T5 MCAOM student, spoke with Marcie Jeffreys, the policy adviser to Sen. Lawrence Pogemiller, D-Minn, about supporting the amendment. They left a packet of information with Jeffreys, and also educated her about acupuncture, as she was unaware acupuncturists were licensed by the state.

“I’m aware of the issue,” Jeffreys told Patzer and Lowe. “I’ll be keeping my eye on it.”

Lowe said he was grateful for the opportunity to lobby.

“This is nerve-wracking but really exciting; I’ve never done anything like this before,” Lowe said. “I think this is important because it’s for the future of medicine. The acupuncturists have just started forming groups to lobby and make the public more aware of these issues. It’s critical to education that legislators support us. Short term, I’m hoping for the passage of this bill. Long term, I would love for acupuncture to be considered a key form of health care in this country. We can do really great things for people.”

Mark McKenzie, MOm, LAc, and dean of MCAOM, said he was pleased with the turnout.

“Today has gone great,” McKenzie said. “The student turnout and support of this effort will be extremely important for the passage of the equal access amendment. In addition, it gives students legislative experience so once they become practitioners it will become easier for them to interact with senators and truly inspire change.”

Northwestern Health Sciences University offers a wide array of choices in natural health care education including chiropractic, Oriental medicine, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, human biology, and integrative health and wellness. The University has more than 900 full-time students on a 25-acre campus in Bloomington, Minn.