We request that acupuncturists are granted essential healthcare worker status in the state of New Hampshire due to similarities with other fields of medicine, such as chiropractic, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.  

Acupuncture practices are fully capable of serving the citizens of New Hampshire just as safely as other licensed healthcare providers on the list of the essential services. Acupuncturists all over the state have been reducing the burden of the opioid crisis, keeping patients out of emergency rooms by providing evidence-based, cost-effective care in pain management, treatment of PTSD and anxiety, and a host of other health conditions. The efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of at least 28 common health conditions has been recognized by the World Health Organization. 

States where acupuncturists practice in large numbers have made them essential: Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, California, and others. Acupuncturists are a small cohort of licensed healthcare providers in New Hampshire, but they bring significant value to the field of public health and need the status of essential healthcare workers to continue doing so.