Contentious hearing on physical-therapy scope bill exposes split between PTs and acupuncturists over dry needling

The Senate Committee on Healthcare reopened the public hearing May 6 on House Bill 3824A, a broadly scoped modernization of the physical-therapy practice act that would adopt language from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and add authorities such as ordering certain imaging, certifying disability parking placards, prescribing durable medical equipment and permitting "needle insertion" procedures currently disputed in Oregon.

Noel Tinoso, government affairs chair for the Oregon chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, said the bill "would align the practice of physical therapy in Oregon with the national standards" and expand patient access, particularly in rural areas, by letting physical therapists practice consistent with their education and training. Jeremy Hilliard, a physical-therapy faculty member and past state chapter president, said dry needling is…