(1) Acupuncture shall not be the exclusive method of treatment for any patient. In an outpatient program, when acupuncture is provided it must be part of an office visit including at least one other service.

(2) Acupuncture therapy, administered pursuant to this section, may be an initial service provided on demand to stabilize and engage a patient during the period of treatment/recovery plan development or a service included in and administered pursuant to a patient’s treatment/recovery plan.

(1) A program’s medical director shall, in consultation with the acupuncturist, develop a protocol to determine if a patient requires a medical evaluation prior to acupuncture therapy. No patient requiring a medical evaluation in accordance with such protocol shall receive acupuncture therapy unless a physician has reviewed the patient’s medical condition and provided written authorization for acupuncture therapy.

(2) Any patient receiving acupuncture therapy shall be monitored by a clinical staff member during the conduct of an acupuncture therapy session to ensure counseling and clinical intervention as necessary.

(3) All acupuncture therapy sessions must be documented in a case record and signed by both the therapist and the monitoring clinical staff member.

(1) Acupuncture therapy is limited to the treatment of addictive disorders as indicated in the treatment/recovery plan.

(2) The individual treatment plan must contain a schedule of acupuncture sessions tailored to the patient's initial and evolving needs including, frequency, duration and clinical justification.

(3) Acupuncture therapy must be provided concurrent with a brief counseling session or is immediately preceded or followed by a counseling session.

(1) a licensed or certified Acupuncturist who has had at least one year of employment experience in the treatment of addictive disorders or completed a training program in the treatment of addictive disorders during the first six months of employment; or

(2) an acupuncture detoxification therapist who is not licensed or certified but who is a clinical staff member who has successfully completed a course of acupuncture training acceptable to the state Education Department under article 160 of the Education Law and who practices acupuncture under the supervision of:

(1) training of all acupuncture therapists regarding infection control, body fluids;

(2) recommended vaccinations;

(3) regular on-site clinical supervision of licensed and unlicensed acupuncture therapists;

(4) written patient informed consent;

(5) space requirements; and

(6) use of and disposal of needles or other acupressure implements consistent with NYS Public Health Law and Environmental Conservation Law.