24.111.807    POINT INJECTION EDUCATION AND TRAINING

(1)  Point injection is the subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intradermal injection of substances consistent with the practice of acupuncture to stimulate acupuncture points, ashi points, trigger points, motor points, and pathways.  Point injection includes trigger points as a subset of acupuncture points and ashi points as recognized in the current practice of acupuncture and Eastern medicine. 

(a)  Substances for point injection include, but are not limited to, saline, sterile water, and herbs, vitamins in liquid, and homeopathic and nutritional substances which are specifically manufactured for injection by means of hypodermic needles.  

(b)  Point injection also includes injection of local anesthetics, such as lidocaine and procaine, for reduction of pain during point injection, consistent with the practice of acupuncture and Eastern medicine and training requirements as defined in rule.

(2)  To perform point injection, an acupuncturist must be trained in point injection.  Only acupuncturists who have NCCAOM Oriental Medicine Certification, which includes specific herbal training requirements and testing, may perform point injection with herbs.

(3) Point injection training requires:

(a) twenty-four contact hours of training including at least eight hours of in person, hands-on experience;

(b) indications, contraindications, and universal precautions;

(c) compounding and administration of the substances authorized for point injection, including aseptic technique, recordkeeping, and storage;

(d) emergency procedures, such as administration of oxygen and responding to adverse reactions and including the use of intramuscular epinephrine.  Up to two hours of training in the use of intramuscular epinephrine may be counted toward point injection training.  An acupuncturist who holds an additional active license with a scope of practice that includes the authority to prescribe, dispense, or administer epinephrine does not need to meet the requirements of this subsection;

(e) an instructor with the following credentials:

(i) a health care license in good standing with a scope of practice that includes point injection; and

(ii)  at least five years of experience in a health care practice that includes point injection; and

(f) providing a successful candidate with:

(i) a certificate of successful completion of the training; and

(ii) a course syllabus which outlines the schedule and curriculum of the training.

(4) Acupuncturists shall order and use traditional oriental and modern medical diagnostic techniques to assist in acupuncture diagnosis, corroboration, monitoring of an acupuncture treatment plan, or referral of a patient to other health care providers.

History: 37-13-201, MCA; IMP, 37-13-103, 37-13-302, MCA; NEW, 2022 MAR p. 1664, Eff. 8/6/22; TRANS, from 24.156.1416, 2023 MAR p. 1093, Eff. 10/1/23.