Dear CSOMA Community,
Early bird pricing ends tonight! Join us in Oakland for hands-on demos covering orthopedic assessment of hip pain, dry needling, pelvic floor care and segmental acupuncture — register today!
News from the CAB: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Hand Hygiene Requirements - Title 16, Section 1399.451
The Acupuncture Board has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to align handwashing regulations with CDC standards, eliminating brush scrubbing and warm water mandates. The proposal also allows alcohol-based hand rubs (minimum 60% alcohol) as soap substitutes. The proposed language and Initial Statement of Reasons can be viewed here. Written comments must be received by the Board at its office no later than Monday, September 28, 2026.
Coming up:
Sept 8: Protecting Your Practice: Professional Responsibility and Practice Defensibility – with Ann Marie Trione, LAc
Sept 24 & 25: CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland – Early Bird ends Aug 20!
Oct 13: Heart Stories: An Integrative Approach to Cardiovascular Health in TCM Practice — with Dennis von Elgg, LAc
Ann Marie Trione: Protecting Your Practice: Professional Responsibility and Practice Defensibility
When: Tuesday, Sept 8 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online: Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1) – includes 2 Ethics CEUs
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option
Meet the speaker: Ann Marie Trione is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 25 years of diverse experience spanning clinical practice, medical professional liability, and public health academia. Currently, she serves as the Direct Account Manager for Acupuncture at the Medical Insurance Exchange of California (MIEC), where she guides acupuncturists through medical professional liability coverage and advances risk management education.
About the class: This course examines how professional liability coverage, California laws and regulations, ethical obligations, and practice defensibility intersect when adverse events and claims arise. Through discussion of common claim trends and real-world scenarios, participants will explore the professional responsibilities that are most
often scrutinized during complaints, claims, and Board investigations, and gain practical strategies to strengthen defensibility, reduce professional risk, and better protect their patients, practice, and license.
Course objectives:
Explain the purpose and limitations of professional liability insurance and how coverage responds to complaints, claims, and Board investigations.
Identify key California laws, regulations, and ethical responsibilities that influence professional liability exposure and practice defensibility.
Recognize common adverse events and claim scenarios in acupuncture practice and understand how they may progress into complaints, investigations, or malpractice claims.
Evaluate how informed consent, documentation, communication, and professional conduct influence the defensibility of a case.
Apply practical strategies to strengthen defensibility, reduce professional risk, and better protect patients, practice, and licensure.
CSOMA Conference & Expo 2026 in Oakland – Sept 24 & 25
CSOMA 2026 Events
Includes 2 Ethics CEUs
Community Bulletin
Join us for 2-days of fully online and interactive learning and networking at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
When: September 26-27, 2026
Where: Online
CEUs: 18 CEUs/PDAs (CAB/NCBAHM Pending)
This event will feature expert speakers discussing the latest trends in integrative medicine. From acupuncture to herbal medicine, orthopedic and whole health integration, our symposium covers a wide range of topics to enhance your clinical practice.
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow healthcare professionals and expand your knowledge in the field of integrative medicine.
Expand your clinical skills with this hands-on pediatric workshop led by Dr. Robyn Adcock, DACM, LAc (Director of Integrative Medicine, UCSF Stad Center). Master Japanese shonishin, pediatric acupressure, and family communication through live patient demonstrations. Open to practitioners and acupuncture students nationwide.
Dates: September 28–29, 2026 (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
Location: UCSF, San Francisco, CA
CEUs: 16 Category 1 CA CEUs (includes 4 ethics hours)
Eligibility: Licensed Acupuncturists & Acupuncture Students
Thank you for reading,
CSOMA
CSOMA Partners
CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!
