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Senate committee adopts narrower amendment on physical therapy scope changes after stakeholder talks
Summary
Lawmakers adopted the A2 amendment to House Bill 3824A, narrowing proposed scope-of-practice changes for physical therapists (removing vaccines and durable medical equipment and allowing rulemaking for dry needling). Committee members expressed continued disagreement but moved the amended bill to the floor.
Senator Patterson, chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care, opened discussion of House Bill 3824A, a measure proposing multiple changes to physical therapy practice law.
The committee adopted the dash A2 amendment, which removes provisions that would have allowed physical therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment and to provide vaccines, allows the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy to adopt rules permitting physical therapists to perform dry needling, and permits physical therapists to order x-rays under the terms of the amendment. Committee staff posted analyses showing a minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact.
Senator Lenthicott and others said stakeholders still felt insufficiently engaged. "They do not feel that they were engaged in the process," Lenthicott said, noting that chiropractors and acupuncturists pressed for more cooperative negotiations. She said she remained opposed to the amendment and to the underlying bill because she believed some tasks proposed in earlier drafts could tread into primary care territory.
Senator Reynolds and supporters said the A2 amendment addressed many prior concerns by removing vaccines, durable medical equipment, and prescribing x-rays from the bill. Reynolds noted many states allow dry needling for physical therapists and that the amendment directs the board to adopt training and scope rules.
Taylor Sarman, representing the American Physical Therapy Association of Oregon, told the committee the language removes the broad "needle insertion" phrase and restores a defined, board-regulated dry needling provision.
After debate the committee adopted the A2 amendment and then approved moving HB 3824A as amended to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Senator Reynolds agreed to serve as carrier.
The record shows continuing disagreement among committee members about scope-of-practice changes and repeated calls to consider a more comprehensive, cross-discipline review of changing clinical roles.
