An Act To Establish Requirements Related to the Practice of Dry Needling

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §3111, sub-§2-A  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §3111-B  is enacted to read:

§ 3111-B.  Authority for dry needling

A licensed physical therapist may use dry needling in accordance with rules adopted by the board. The board shall adopt rules, which are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, governing the use of dry needling by physical therapists. The rules must set forth the requirements for authority for dry needling, which must include, but are not limited to, a doctoral degree in physical therapy conferred by an accredited institution of higher education; a minimum of 120 classroom hours of education in dry needling theory and techniques and 80 hours of clinical instruction in dry needling; instruction in exposure control for blood-borne pathogens; and registration as a biomedical waste generator pursuant to Title 38, section 1319-O, subsection 3. Notwithstanding the authority provided by this section, a physical therapist may not profess to be practicing acupuncture unless licensed as an acupuncturist in accordance with chapter 113-B, subchapter 2.

summary

This bill amends the laws governing the licensing of physical therapists to allow licensed physical therapists to use dry needling in accordance with rules adopted by the Board of Examiners in Physical Therapy. The bill requires the board to adopt rules governing the use of dry needling by physical therapists.