1. I. The general court finds that a significant number of New Hampshire residents choose acupuncture and Asian medicine to be part of their health care needs and declares that acupuncture and Asian medicine form a distinct health care profession that affects the public health, safety, and welfare and provides freedom of choice in health care.

2. II. The purpose of this chapter is:

   1. (a) To provide standards for the licensing and regulation of acupuncturists in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
   2. (b) To ensure that acupuncture and Asian medical therapies practiced by qualified persons are available to the people of New Hampshire.
   3. (c) To provide a means of identifying qualified acupuncturists.

Source. 1997, 251:1, eff. July 1, 1997. 2022, 213:7, eff. July 19, 2022 at 12:01 a.m.