Oriental Medicine Association of New Mexico |
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Politics 101 for Doctors of Oriental Medicine
There are 3 important entities to understand:
The Oriental Medicine Association of NM (OMANM aka “The Association”) This is the professional association for DOMs. The function of the board is to be a forum for discussion and it has no formal legal capacity. Practically though, it defines the direction of Oriental Medicine and is listened to by the NM Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and by the NM Legislature and the Governor. It is considered representative of the profession at large. Currently, about a quarter of NM DOMs are paid members. The Board of Directors of the OMANM consists of 6-10 members including up to 2 alternates who become board members if someone has to step down. There are also 4 officers - The President, The Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. Only paying members may vote. Students cannot vote except for the one board member. The OMANM is a non-profit association. It can make political contributions. It can lobby. The OMANM pays a professional lobbyist to go talk to legislators and push for new laws and changes and to monitor for laws from other boards that might affect our profession.
The NM Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NMBAOM aka BAOM, “The State Board” or “The Licensing Board”) This board’s primary function is to protect the public. They achieve this in two ways. They set the standards for entry into the profession and make sure that the practitioners meet those standards. This is the licensing function of the NMBAOM. They also help to protect the public by enforcing the provisions of the New Mexico Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practice Act. This act defines the board’s regulatory responsibilities. The NMBAOM is granted its authority from laws (Statutes) passed by the New Mexico State Legislature. The board develops rules and regulations to further define the ‘Statutes’ passed by the Legislature The Board cannot create laws (Statutes) on its own. NMBAOM consists of seven members, 4 professional and 3 public. The board is appointed by the Governor for terms of three years. A maximum a member may serve is two full terms and part of an expired term. A board member may serve longer than this to give the Governor time to replace them. The Governor may or may not take input on potential appointees from an organization like the OMANM.
The NM Legislature. This is where all “Statutes” or laws get presented in the form of ‘Bills’ and passed or rejected in a process of House and/or Senate committee assignments. This is where NM law is formally created. The Legislature is in session in Santa Fe only one or two months a year in the winter. Anyone can propose a new law but must have this proposed law represented/sponsored by a Legislator in the form of a ‘Bill’. In order for a law to pass, concerned people lobby for it and pay a lobbyist and with any luck (if we want it) it gets voted on and passes. The Governor must then sign the ‘Bill’ for it to become law. Other boards such as the Medical or Pharmacy Boards may propose laws that affect us. We then would lobby either for or against this proposed legislation. A lobbyist is often paid part time even for a session where there are no bills introduced by the profession to monitor bills from other professions that will affect us.
Figure 1 shows the interactions between these three entities.
Figure 1: NM Political structure as important for DOMs 
How to communicate with these political entities:
OMANM
P.O. 91293
Albuquerque, NM 87199
Website: www.omanm.org
Email: info@omanm.org
To communicate with individual board members or officers find contact information on the website or on the inside cover of The Point.
Peter Mallery is paid as a lobbyist by the OMANM and as such represents paid-up members. He would like to be communicated with via the OMANM president.
Current President is Selah Chamberlain: Selah@taosnet.com
Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Board
PO Box 25101, Santa Fe NM 87504
Physical address:
2550 Cerrillos Rd (between Siler and Osage)
Santa Fe , NM 87505
Phone (505) 476-4630 or 476 4696 or 1-800 825 6639
Fax (505) 476-7095
Website: :www.rld.state.nm.us/b&c/acupuncture
Email: AcuOrMedBoard@state.nm.us
The New Mexico Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practice Act (our state laws) is available on their website under “Rules and Laws”
Board meetings are posted on the website. From the Homepage go to “ Board Info” then to “ Meeting Schedules” then to “ Scheduled Meetings 200x”. Often not up-to-date. You can request in writing to be informed of meetings by email. Meetings are sometimes held at the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe, Room 305/307/309 or at the Board offices. Meetings typically go on all day 9am-4pm.
The current NMBAOM chairman is Fiquet Duckworth, Professional Member
The current administrator is Rosemarie Ortiz.
