Bill > SB0224

This bill amends Tennessee law to expand the scope of practice for athletic trainers by explicitly allowing them to use dry needling, a technique involving the insertion of thin needles into muscle trigger points, as part of their injury prevention and treatment services. The bill requires the Board of Athletic Trainers to establish specific minimum competency requirements for practitioners who want to perform dry needling, including a comprehensive training program of at least 74 total hours. The training must cover detailed areas such as musculoskeletal systems, pain mechanisms, trigger points, universal precautions, dry needling techniques, documentation, adverse effect management, and bloodborne pathogen protocols. The bill clarifies that dry needling by athletic trainers does not constitute acupuncture and stipulates that athletic trainers may only practice in areas where they can substantiate competence through training or experience. The legislation will take effect immediately for rule-making purposes, with full implementation set for September 1, 2025, and requires that an athletic trainer obtain board-approved training and certification before practicing dry needling.

Health and Social Services

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0224&ga=114