Ted Priebe, O.M.D.
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
Appointed Member, Medical Evidence Evaluation Advisory Committee; California Worker’s Compensation

Practicing acupuncture in California since 1983, Dr. Priebe specializes in the study and treatment of pain in neuromuscular injury and disease, especially Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/RSD. He is part of the interdisciplinary Pain and Rehabilitation Medical Group, Accredited Pain Program in Torrance, California, USA.

Since 1993, Dr. Priebe has served in the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers' Compensation for the State of California: at various times on the Scope of Practice Subcommittee, Utilization Review Committee, and Acupuncture Research Committee. As a recognized leading expert in the profession, he currently sits as an appointed member on the Medical Evidence Advisory Committee, Worker’s Compensation Medical Unit.

Dr. Priebe is a founding member and Executive Director of the National Oriental Medicine Accreditation Agency (NOMAA.org) creating a national standard for Doctor of Oriental Medicine (OMD) First-professional doctoral degree programs.

The following National Professional Organizations represent the majority of Licensed Primary Care Practitioners in the U.S.

The National Guild of Needle Therapy OPEIU Local 62 AFL-CIO (OPEIU.org) is a professional society and national guild that pursues development of the highest standards of Oriental medical care. Our mission is to develop scientifically based standards of practice and to advocate for legislation based upon those standards to assure our inclusion as primary providers of Needle Therapy in the nation’s healthcare system. Furthermore, as a national guild of the Office of Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) and affiliate of the AFL-CIO, we will be part of the 145,000 member strong OPEIU. This will ensure our seat at the table when the debate for universal healthcare is joined.

The Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations, CAOMA, CAOMAUS.org is an umbrella organization of other Oriental medicine professional membership organizations, advocating for excellence in the education and practice of Oriental Medicine as a primary health care profession.

Our joint mission is to protect the interest of the public and the patient; ensure that the education and practice standards of the profession are at the highest level possible; and ensure that every California school of acupuncture and Oriental medicine approved by the California Acupuncture Board meets the educational standards as required in statute.

CAOMA & NGAOM team to produce the 2nd Edition of the Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture Evidence Based Treatment Guidelines

The Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations (CAOMA) and the National Guild of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NGAOM), Board and members have begun the task of producing the 2nd Edition of the Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture Evidence Based Treatment Guidelines, due fall of 2009.

Dr. Priebe said, “Our first edition has brought the California practitioner into the mainstream of medicine and many rewards in developing an evidence base that has begun to bring respect for Chinese medicine in the utilization of Needling Therapy (Acupuncture).”

“Without the hard work and dedication to this project California Licensed Acupuncturists would not have been able to continue to provide necessary treatment for the thousands of injured workers in California, or be included in many HMO and insurance programs such as Medical Provider Networks in the Worker’s Compensation system, ” said Ted Priebe, OMD, appointed member of the California Worker’s Compensation, Medical Evidence Evaluation Advisory Committee and Consultant to Zenith Insurance Company Medical Provider Network (ZMPN).

The California § 9792.20 Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (Law), which provides specifically for Acupuncture, is reflective of this effort, as well as the upcoming chronic pain guidelines and Official Medical Fee Schedule. The Acupuncture Medical Treatment Guidelines set forth in this subdivision shall supersede the text in the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) Practice Guidelines, Second Edition, relating to acupuncture, except for shoulder complaints, and shall address acupuncture treatment where not discussed in the ACOEM Practice Guidelines. The Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule is presumptively correct on the issue of extent and scope of medical treatment and diagnostic services addressed in the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule for the duration of the medical conditions.

The Second Edition Editors, Ted Priebe, OMD, Deke Kendall, OMD, PhD, Eduardo Lin, MD, Contributing Editors, Michelle Lau, OMD, David Karaba, OMD and the Guidelines Advisory Council, and Endorsement Committee welcome additional help, in MEDLINE www.pubmed.gov; search and Committee participation and can be reached at needle.drs@verizon.net or 310-801-1462
.