Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1355 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 623 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1355
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Julian Cyr
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to safer treatment for pain.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Julian CyrCape and Islands 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 623 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1355
18	18	By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1355) of Julian Cyr for legislation
19	19	relative to safer treatment for pain. Public Health.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE SENATE, NO. 1402 OF 2021-2022.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act relative to safer treatment for pain.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Section 148 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
31	31	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following definition:-
32	32	3 “Dry needling”; “trigger point acupuncture”; or “intramuscular therapy”, an advanced
33	33	4needling skill or technique limited to the treatment of myofascial pain, using a single use, single
34	34	5insertion, sterile filiform needle (without the use of heat, cold or any other added modality or
35	35	6medication), that is inserted into the skin or underlying tissues to stimulate trigger points. Dry
36	36	7needling may apply theory based only upon Western medical concepts, requires an examination
37	37	8and diagnosis and treats specific anatomic entities selected according to physical signs. Trigger
38	38	9point acupuncture or dry needling does not include the stimulation of auricular points, utilization 2 of 3
39	39	10of distal points or non-local points, needle retention, application of retained electric stimulation
40	40	11leads or the teaching or application of other acupuncture theory.
41	41	12 SECTION 2. Said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting
42	42	13after section 152 the following section:-
43	43	14 Section 152A. (a) Licensed health care professionals practicing dry needling, trigger
44	44	15point acupuncture, or intramuscular therapy shall meet the following criteria:
45	45	16 (i) At least 2 years of post-graduate, professional experience in private practice treating
46	46	17patients in an orthopedic setting;
47	47	18 (ii) Completion of 500 didactic hours and 150 clinical hours of training in the practice of
48	48	19dry needling, trigger point acupuncture, or intramuscular therapy;
49	49	20 (iii) Completion of a proper in-person educational program provided by qualified
50	50	21instructors as determined by the Department of Public Health;
51	51	22 (iv) Demonstration of minimal competency through a psychometrically sound, third party
52	52	23examination not administered by the required training course or educational program;
53	53	24 (v) In possession of an advanced orthopedic clinical certification;
54	54	25 (vi) Passage of The Clean Needle Technique (CNT) class and exam taught by the Council
55	55	26of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM);
56	56	27 (vii) Completion of any continuing education required for the practice of dry needling,
57	57	28trigger point acupuncture or intramuscular therapy; 3 of 3
58	58	29 (viii) Must be able to provide proof of all of the educational, training, and practical
59	59	30experience required by this section upon request of the Department of Public Health.
60	60	31 (b) Any treatment defined as dry needling, trigger point acupuncture, or intramuscular
61	61	32therapy shall be charted appropriately in the medical record by the practicing licensed health care
62	62	33professional.
63	63	34 (c) Any significant and adverse events, requiring follow up medical attention, as a result
64	64	35of the practice of dry needling, trigger point acupuncture, or intramuscular therapy shall be
65	65	36reported and documented with the Department of Public Health.
66	66	37 (d) Specific and appropriate written consent for treatment by the practice of dry needling,
67	67	38trigger point acupuncture, or intramuscular therapy shall be obtained by the licensed health care
68	68	39professional from the patient.
69	69	40 (e) Any licensed health care professional practicing dry needling, trigger point
70	70	41acupuncture, or intramuscular therapy shall maintain a malpractice insurance policy that
71	71	42specifies coverage for dry needling, trigger point acupuncture, or intramuscular therapy.
72	72	43 (f) The Department of Public Health shall promulgate a standard set of competencies
73	73	44including the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the safe and competent practice of
74	74	45trigger point acupuncture, dry needling, and intramuscular therapy as well as any further rules
75	75	46and regulations necessary for the implementation of this section.