TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Board of Physical Therapy is claiming an exemption from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act in accordance with § 2.2-4006 A 4 a of the Code of Virginia, which excludes regulations that are necessary to conform to changes in Virginia statutory law or the appropriation act where no agency discretion is involved. The board will receive, consider, and respond to petitions by any interested person at any time with respect to reconsideration or revision.
Title of Regulation: 18VAC112-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Physical Therapy (amending 18VAC112-20-121).
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Effective Date: November 8, 2023.
Agency Contact: Corie Tillman Wolf, Executive Director, Board of Physical Therapy, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4674, FAX (804) 527-4413, or email ptboard@dhp.virginia.gov.
Summary:
Pursuant to Chapters 136 and 137 of the 2023 Acts of Assembly, the amendments exclude dry needling from invasive procedures that may only be performed under the referral and direction of a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, podiatry, or dental surgery.
18VAC112-20-121. Practice of dry needling.
A. Dry needling is an invasive procedure that requires referral and direction in accordance with § 54.1-3482 of the Code of Virginia. Referral should be in writing; if the initial referral is received orally, it shall be followed up with a written referral.
B. A. Dry needling is not an entry level skill but an advanced procedure that requires additional post-graduate training.
1. The training shall be specific to dry needling and shall include emergency preparedness and response, contraindications and precautions, secondary effects or complications, palpation and needle techniques, and physiological responses.
2. The training shall consist of didactic and hands-on laboratory education and shall include passage of a theoretical and practical examination. The hands-on laboratory education shall be face-to-face.
3. The training shall be in a course approved or provided by a sponsor listed in subsection B of 18VAC112-20-131.
4. The practitioner shall not perform dry needling beyond the scope of the highest level of the practitioner's training.
C. B. Prior to the performance of dry needling, the physical therapist shall obtain informed consent from the patient or the patient's representative. The informed consent shall include the risks and benefits of the technique. The informed consent form shall be maintained in the patient record.
D. C. Dry needling shall only be performed by a physical therapist trained pursuant to subsection B A of this section and shall not be delegated to a physical therapist assistant or other support personnel.
VA.R. Doc. No. R24-7546; Filed September 06, 2023