(a) After notice and public hearing, the medical board shall determine by rule whether an acupuncturist may treat a patient for alcoholism or chronic pain without a referral from a physician, dentist, or chiropractor. The medical board shall make the determination based on clinical evidence and what the medical board determines to be in the best interest of affected patients.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 205.301, a license holder may, without a referral from a physician, dentist, or chiropractor, perform acupuncture on a person for:
(1) smoking addiction;
(2) weight loss; or
(3) substance abuse, to the extent permitted by medical board rule adopted with advice from the acupuncture board.