THE BILL ITSELF
CS/HB 867
Dry Needling by Occupational Therapists
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An act relating to dry needling by occupational
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therapists; amending s. 468.203, F.S.; defining the
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terms "dry needling" and "myofascial trigger point";
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creating s. 468.227, F.S.; requiring the Board of
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Occupational Therapy Practice to establish minimum
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standards of practice for the performance of dry
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needling by occupational therapists; providing
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performance requirements; requiring the board to
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establish additional supervision and training
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requirements; requiring the Department of Health to
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submit a specified report to the Legislature by a
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specified date; providing construction; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsections (3) through (8) of section 468.203,
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Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) through
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(10), respectively, and new subsections (3) and (4) are added to
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that section, to read:
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468.203 Definitions.—As used in this act, the term:
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(3) "Dry needling" has the same meaning as in s.
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486.021(12).
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(4) "Myofascial trigger point" has the same meaning as in
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s. 486.021(13).
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Section 2. Section 468.227, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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468.227 Occupational therapist; performance of dry
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needling.—
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(1) The board shall establish minimum standards of
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practice for the performance of dry needling by occupational
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therapists, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
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(a) Completion of 2 years of licensed practice as an
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occupational therapist.
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(b) Completion of 50 hours of face-to-face continuing
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education from an entity approved by the board on the topic of
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dry needling, which must include a determination by the
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instructor that the occupational therapist demonstrates the
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requisite psychomotor skills needed to safely perform dry
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needling. The continuing education must include instruction in
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all of the following areas:
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1. Theory of dry needling.
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2. Selection and safe handling of needles and other
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apparatus or equipment used in dry needling, including
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instruction on the proper handling of biohazardous waste.
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3. Indications and contraindications for dry needling.
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4. Psychomotor skills needed to safely perform dry
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needling.
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5. Postintervention care, including adverse responses,
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adverse event recordkeeping, and any reporting obligations.
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(c)1. Completion of at least 25 patient sessions of dry
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needling performed under the supervision of an occupational
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therapist, physical therapist, or chiropractic physician who
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holds an active license to practice in any state or the District
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of Columbia, who has actively performed dry needling for at
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least 1 year, and who documents that he or she has met the
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supervision and competency requirements and needs no additional
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supervised sessions to perform dry needling; or
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2. Completion of 25 patient sessions of dry needling
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performed as an occupational therapist licensed in any state or
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in the United States Armed Forces.
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(d) A requirement that dry needling may not be performed
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without patient consent and must be a part of a patient's
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documented plan of care.
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(e) A requirement that dry needling may not be delegated
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to any person other than an occupational therapist who is
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authorized to engage in dry needling under this chapter.
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(2) The board shall establish additional supervision and
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training requirements before the performance of dry needling of
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the head and neck or torso by an occupational therapist if the
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board deems it necessary for patient safety.
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(3) The Department of Health shall, within existing
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resources, submit a report to the President of the Senate and
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the Speaker of the House of Representatives on or before
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December 31, 2028, detailing the number of occupational
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therapists in the state, the number of occupational therapists
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in the state performing dry needling, any increases or decreases
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in the number of occupational therapists in the state by
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geographic area, and any adverse medical incidents as defined by
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the board involving occupational therapists in the state
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performing dry needling.
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(4) The performance of dry needling in the practice of
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occupational therapy does not limit the scope of practice of
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other licensed health care practitioners not governed by this
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chapter.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.