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Senate approves bill clarifying dry needling practice and training requirements
Summary
Senators adopted a committee substitute and passed SB411, which clarifies differences between dry needling and acupuncture, allows certain licensed professionals to perform dry needling with defined training, and restricts certain advertising and representations.
The Georgia Senate adopted a committee substitute to Senate Bill 411 and passed the measure on Monday, formalizing who may perform dry needling and what training is required.
The sponsor said the substitute clarifies the distinction between dry needling and traditional acupuncture, aligns physical therapists, occupational therapists and acupuncturists on practice limits, and adds language about private causes of action and discipline for improper representation. The sponsor said stakeholders including practitioners and the Georgia Medical Association were involved in drafting the compromise language.
Questions from other senators focused on whether previously expressed stakeholder concerns had been resolved; the sponsor said objections had been addressed and that representatives of impacted groups participated in the drafting. The committee substitute was adopted and the Senate passed the bill by recorded vote.
The bill amends provisions in Georgia law governing professions and businesses to specify training, definitions and disciplinary standards related to dry needling.
