Purpose
The Board accepts written complaints filed against both licensed acupuncturists and persons that are providing services without the proper credentials. Complaints submitted anonymously will be reviewed but may not be able to be fully investigated.
How Do I File a Complaint?
All complaints MUST be filed using this complaint form. Please include your name, address, telephone number, and email address (if applicable) as well as the contact information of the Licensee. A detailed description of the violation should be provided including the nature and facts of your complaint. Please be sure to read the complaint form instructions before completing the form.
How Are Complaints Processed?
The Board receives complaints concerning a wide variety of issues and situations. Clearly labeled complaints are reviewed upon receipt or the next business day. A letter is sent to the Complainant confirming that the complaint has been received by the Board. The Board includes a copy of the complaint and requests that the Licensee provide a response.
Complaints have three possible outcomes:
- It is determined that there is not a sufficient basis to proceed with formal disciplinary action. Consequently the complaint will be closed/dismissed.
- It has been determined that a violation of the Acupuncture Practice Act has occurred, and informal nonpublic disciplinary action is sufficient to resolve the violation.
- It is determined that a violation of the Acupuncture Practice Act has occurred and formal public disciplinary action is taken to resolve the violation.
An investigation is a fact finding process that is usually conducted by a Board Investigator. The following are all a part of, but not necessarily the extent of the investigation process:
- Interviews of all necessary parties (e.g., Licensee, Complainant, staff, other professionals, witnesses, etc.) as determined by the Board Investigator.
- Requests for documentation including but not limited to medical records, pictures, letters, email, texts, and call logs.
- Background investigations
- Office visits
The Board uses the complaint and all the gathered information to make its decision. It is important to know that the Complainant is not provided updates or a summary of findings of the investigation. A complainant should know that:
- Closed/dismissed complaints don’t mean that no investigation was conducted. Only that it has been determined that no charges of the Acupuncture Practice Act were issued. The Complainant may be sent a notice when the case is closed/dismissed.
- The imposition of informal (nonpublic) action is not shared with the public. The Complainant is not notified of the action taken.
- The imposition of formal disciplinary action means that a public order is issued explaining the Board's findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the sanction imposed by the Board. The corrective action is posted on the Board’s website and shared with relevant health professions credentialing and monitoring organizations.
