The proposed Florida Senate Bill 230 redefines which healthcare professions can include the term “physician” in their practitioner title. If this bill is enacted into law, licensed acupuncturists will no longer be permitted to legally use the professional title Acupuncture Physician after July 1 of this year.  

Any licensee who uses or advertises the title after this date could be subject to disciplinary action.

Florida State Oriental Medical Association (FSOMA) has been tracking this legislation and lobbying with senators and representatives for several years. The Association urges licensed acupuncturists interested in keeping and using the professional title Acupuncture Physician to act and encourage others to call, email, snail-mail or contact their local Florida State Senator’s office to voice opposition to the current version of SB 230. 

In addition, House Bill 583 is the House “companion” bill to SB 230. The language and principal objectives of HB 583 are very similar to SB 230. Both branches of the Florida Legislature are working to create new statutory language within Florida Chapter 456 Health Professions and Occupations: General Provisions to redefine which licensed health care practitioners can use and include the term “physician” in their professional title. At this time, the current language in HB 583 also redefines which Florida licensed health care practitioners can use and include the term “doctor” in their professional title.

For a list of talking points and more information on SB 230 and HB 583, visit fsoma.org.