Strengthening Our Profession Together
Join NMSAAM Today
Adapted minimally from an unpublished 2025 membership drive letter by Dr. Jake Wilcox, DOM
Dear Doctors of Oriental Medicine and Colleagues,
NMSAAM is a volunteer-led organization made up of dedicated DOMs who are committed to advancing our field. A significant portion of our time, energy, and budget is devoted to the legislative process. The majority of our expenses go toward employing a professional lobbyist—an essential role that ensures our voices are heard and our interests are safeguarded at the Capitol.
In the 2025 session, our lobbying efforts focused on:
- Including DOMs in Medicaid
- Advocating for DOM inclusion in the GRT refund
- Protecting our scope of practice and opposing harmful legislation
- Pushing to open insurance panels for DOMs
- Promoting the importance of our work to lawmakers
The 2026 legislative session was also significant. Now, as we begin preparing for the 2027 legislative session—which requires months of planning—we want to hear from you. What issues are most pressing in your practice and in the profession at large? Contact us at nmsaam.org
The Reality Is Clear:
Without a professional lobbyist, our profession is vulnerable. The current political climate demonstrates how quickly professional landscapes can shift. In years past, acupuncture colleges played a key role in advocacy and safe keeping of our profession. With none remaining in New Mexico, we must rely on each other now more than ever.
NMSAAM has been operating at a deficit in recent years. Lobbyist fees, Mailchimp, website/IT support, and are rising. In 2026, our lobbyist costs are $1000/mo. To meet this need, we estimate we must grow our membership by at least 150 members. Donations are always helpful! See below Appendix for the 2024 Budget overview.
Here’s How You Can Help:
- Join or Renew Your Membership. Annual membership is just $150—equivalent to the cost of 1–3 patient visits. It’s a small investment to protect your professional future.
- Encourage Colleagues to Join. Talk to other DOMs about why membership matters—especially as other health professions in New Mexico push to include acupuncture in their scopes of practice.
- Get Involved. NMSAAM is always looking for support—whether it’s sharing ideas for improving membership outreach or serving on the board. We currently have an opening for Board Secretary.
Together, we can strengthen and safeguard our profession. Thank you for your continued support—we need it now more than ever.
Appendix: 2024 Budget Overview
Total Expenses: $9,473.54
| Category | Amount | % of Budget |
| Lobbyist | $6,457.50 | 68.2% |
| Website / IT Support | $1,436.99 | 15.2% |
| ASA Dues | $655.00 | 6.9% |
| Marketing / Events | $335.75 | 3.5% |
| Overhead / Other Expenses | $588.30 | 6.2% |
Key Points:
- NM DOMs are protecting their profession on less than $10,000 per year—a fraction of what other medical groups spend.
- Despite this limited budget, NMSAAM has consistently operated at a deficit.
- We’ve secured a discounted lobbyist rate for 2024 and 2025—but this will not continue in 2026.
- To sustain future advocacy, we must significantly grow our membership base.
- This is a pivotal time for the future of Oriental medicine in New Mexico.
How can you find out more?
- Details of work by our lobbyists and NMSAAM BOD meetings are open to the Members Only section of the NMSAAM website. DOMs
- Attend BOD meetings – see website for dates and details
- Attend the NMSAAM Annual Meeting for CEU’s and talented presenters via Zoom on August 15, 2026 Saturday from 10 – 5:00.
How can you join NMSAAM? Go to the red JOIN/RENEW lettering on the top right corner of the home page of this website and follow the prompts: https://nmsaam.org/
Please note: This article expresses the opinions and research of the author, and does not necessarily reflect all views or policies of NMSAAM members, the NMSAAM BOD, or the ASA.