Bill > HB106

This bill amends Delaware's occupational therapy regulations to include dry needling as a permissible intervention for licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. Dry needling is defined as a technique using thin needles to penetrate skin and stimulate muscular and connective tissues to manage neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments, based on Western medical concepts. The bill adds specific requirements for performing dry needling, including mandating a written physician referral before treatment and prohibiting practitioners from advertising themselves as acupuncturists unless they are licensed as such. The bill also provides a definition for "trigger points" as hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle associated with palpable nodules that can cause pain and movement limitations. The legislation expands the scope of occupational therapy services to explicitly include dry needling and gives the Board authority to establish training and practice standards for this new intervention. The changes will take effect six months after the bill is enacted into law, allowing time for practitioners and the regulatory board to prepare for the new practice guidelines.

Health and Social Services

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142042