05/10/2025
Give us a hand in Oregon, where I practice acupuncture, one of the few US states left that forbids physical therapists from practicing dry needling, a form of acupuncture. If passed, bill HB3824 would change that, allowing PTs to perform dry needling in addition to other procedures. PTs receive on average 52 hours of training in dry needling in order to obtain a certificate to practice it in most states. Compare that to an acupuncturist's typical training in acupuncture alone: 1,643 hours, speaking for myself, and this does not count my doctorate training or continuing education hours after graduating with a masters in 2006. So, roughly 32 times the amount of hours of training in the art of needling! In regards to severe adverse events, studies have shown that dry needling at the hands of non-acupuncturists to occur about 1 in every 1,000 treatments, while severe adverse events by acupuncture performed by licensed acupuncturists occurs about 1 in 100,000 treatments. PTs have their own governing board, while acupuncturists are governed by the same board as medical doctors and nurses, and they're apparently trying to gather more of the medical pie, as it were. In this bill, they are also trying to add vaccines and yearly checkups to their repertoire in Oregon. The PT lobby is extremely strong, and we need all the help we can get to thwart this attempt! Please consider offering a written testimony - the deadline has been extended to 3pm PST today, Saturday, May 10th. I'll add a sample testimony from the Oregon Association of Acupuncturists in the comments. Thanks!
EXTENDED TO 3PM SATURDAY THE 10TH!!
503 OPPOSE 609 SUPPORT
📣 We need more opposition to HB 3824!
394 people have supported the bill. Only 100 have opposed it. We must change that.
📍HB 3824 allows physical therapists to perform “needle insertion”—which is acupuncture under Oregon law. This threatens patient safety and weakens licensure protections.
🗓 Testify by May 8 at 2:30 PM
🖋 Submit Written Testimony: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Testimony/SHC/HB/3824/0000-00-00-00-00?area=Measures&mc_cid=61b64473e2&mc_eid=5d082e9ffb
📄 Sample Testimony: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y_4xRqh7bnrve6TIlkp4oI6WAdRxNPESIj1cQWyqwzI/edit?mc_cid=de19076a38&mc_eid=7ddb76eb0d&tab=t.0
Let legislators know: Acupuncture should only be practiced by trained, licensed professionals.
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