Supervision of Auricular Detox Technicians

PURPOSE: This rule outlines the requirements for supervision of auricular detox technicians. (1) An auricular detox technician (hereinafter technician) shall insert and remove acupuncture needles in the auricle of the ear only. The points where a technician shall insert needles are limited specifically to the points known as Shen Men, Lung, Liver, Kidney, and Sympathetic as described and located by the National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA) or other national entity approved by the advisory committee. (2) When providing supervision to a technician, a licensed acupuncturist shall have supervisory meetings with the technician a minimum of four (4) hours per month and be available on-site, by telephone or pager, when the technician is providing services as defined in 20 CSR 2015-4.010(1). (A) A minimum of two (2) hours per month shall consist of face-to-face supervision, at no less than fifty (50) continuous minutes per supervisory meeting, and include observing the technician inserting and removing the acupuncture needles in the auricle of the ear. (B) The remaining two (2) hours per month of supervisory meetings may be face-to-face or via electronic communication to include telephone contact, Internet such as email, video tape, or simultaneous visual and verbal interaction via the Internet. (3) The licensed acupuncturist must exercise professional judgment when determining the number of technicians s/he can safely and effectively supervise to ensure that quality care is provided at all times. (4) Any duties assigned to a technician must be determined and supervised by a licensed acupuncturist and not exceed the level of training, knowledge, skill, and competence of the detox technician being supervised. An acupuncturist may delegate to a technician only specific tasks that are not evaluative, assessment oriented, task selective, or recommending in nature. (5) When providing supervision of a technician, a licensed acupuncturist is responsible for the oversight of the auricular detoxification procedures only. When referring to procedures provided by a technician, only the terms auricular detoxification or auricular detox shall be used. (6) Duties or functions that a technician shall not perform include, and are not limited to: (A) Interpretation of referrals or prescriptions for acupuncture services; (B) Evaluative procedures; (C) Development, planning, adjusting, or modification of acupuncture treatment procedures; (D) Acting on behalf of the acupuncturist in any matter related to direct patient care that requires judgement or decision making; and (E) Acupuncture performed independently or without supervision of a licensed acupuncturist. AUTHORITY: sections 324.475, 324.481, and 324.484, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 15-4.010. Original rule filed July 24, 2001, effective Feb. 28, 2002. Moved to 20 CSR 2015-4.010, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed June 27, 2008, effective Dec. 30, 2008. Amended: Filed May 30, 2018, effective Dec. 30, 2018. *Original authority: 324.475, RSMo 1998, amended 1999, 2008; 324.481, RSMo 1998, amended 1999, 2009; and 324.484, RSMo 1998, amended 1999.