HB 3824
Allows a physical therapist to perform dry needling.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
52%
Oppose
48%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill allows physical therapists in Oregon to perform dry needling, a technique used to treat muscle pain and dysfunction. The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy will need to create rules governing the practice, including training requirements. The bill also makes changes to the Oregon Medical Board’s reporting requirements for professional negligence claims and updates definitions related to physical therapy practice. Finally, it modifies Oregon Revised Statutes concerning competence, consultation, and supervision within the field.
Key provisions
- Physical therapists can perform dry needling according to board-adopted rules.
- The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy must establish training requirements for dry needling.
- The Oregon Medical Board’s reporting requirements for professional negligence claims are amended.
- ORS 688.010 is amended to define key terms related to physical therapy.
- ORS 742.400 is amended to clarify the definition of ‘claim’ and ‘reporter’ for medical liability reporting.
- The bill repeals and amends specific sections of ORS 688.040 and 688.090.
- The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy’s membership requirements are changed.
- Requires specified reporters to report a claim against a physical therapist to the board.
Who is affected
- Physical Therapists
- Patients receiving physical therapy
- The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy
- The Oregon Medical Board
- Healthcare providers
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of HB 3824 generally advocate for aligning Oregon's physical therapy laws with national best practices, expanding care options, and improving patient safety. They emphasize the importance of modernizing the profession to combat the chronic pain crisis, enhance access to high-quality care, and reduce healthcare costs. Many testifiers highlight the need for personalized care, expanded services such as dry needling, and improved accessibility in rural communities. They also express enthusiasm for the bill's potential to improve patient outcomes and protect the 'Doctor of Physical Therapy' title. Overall, supporters view the bill as a crucial step towards enhancing Oregon's healthcare system and aligning it with national standards.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of House Bill 3824 express concerns that allowing physical therapists to perform dry needling poses significant risks to patient safety. They argue that this practice is already defined as acupuncture in Oregon law and requires specific training mechanisms for safety, which are not adequately addressed by the proposed training hours. Critics contend that the inclusion of needle insertion in the physical therapy scope of practice undermines established state law and bypasses oversight from the Acupuncture Advisory Committee, compromising patient safety and potentially leading to unlicensed medical practices. Many that licensed acupuncturists have significantly more extensive training requirements than physical therapists, and that allowing physical therapists to perform dry needling could blur the lines between physical therapy and acupuncture, leading to confusion and increased risks for patients.