The Florida Board of Physical Therapy has proposed a rule that would allow certain physical therapists to treat patients using “dry needling” techniques. However, acupuncturists maintain that expanding the scope of PT practice is inappropriate and continue to pursue the matter.
“This is a great opportunity to provide a non-opioid alternative,” said the St. Augustine-based physical therapist and the only physical therapist in the state certified by the Board of Physical Therapy to perform this procedure. says therapist Rob Stanborough. According to a news article from News Chief.
Acupuncturist David Bibby points out in a news article that dry acupuncture is acupuncture, and there’s a reason Congress doesn’t allow only medical professionals to perform it. .
“They want to protect the public from the inherent risk of injury,” said Bibby, who is also the treasurer of the Florida Association of Oriental Physicians, which opposes the proposed rule.
According to news articles, the Acupuncture Board also opposes the proposed rule, arguing that the dry needling proposal would unfairly expand the scope of practice for physical therapists.
Under Florida law, the practice of physical therapy includes acupuncture. But the law makes clear that skin penetration is not allowed and that therapists who wish to perform acupuncture must follow rules set by the Florida Medical Board.
However, the Florida Medical Board has not passed regulations on this issue.
Meanwhile, after allowing Stanborough to practice, the Florida Board of Physical Therapy moved forward with a proposed rule that would apply to all physical therapists, the news article continues.
Board members introduced requirements earlier this year that would allow physical therapists to practice dry needling techniques as long as they have taken a course recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the Federation of State Physical Therapy Boards. agreed. treatment or any branch of the United States military.
But Marjorie Holladay, general counsel for the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Procedures, said the rule appears to violate the law.
She wrote a letter to the Board of Physical Therapy, pointing out that the proposed dry needling rule would allow therapists to insert needles into the skin, which exceeds their statutory authority, the news article said. ing.
Holladay’s letter also noted that the medical board has not set any standards for the practice of acupuncture.
But lawyers for the statewide physical therapy association argue that the responsibility for setting standards for dry needling lies with the physical therapy board, not the medical board, the news article concluded.
[Source: News Chief]
