IPTA Dry Needling Legislation

I am Marie Stravlo, Executive Director for the the Idaho Physical Therapy Association (IPTA).  My office is located in Alexandria, Virginia at the American Physical Therapy Association's Headquarters. I've worked for the IPTA since March of 2017.  Under the direction and through the vision of President Gerber, the IPTA Board of Directors has authorized campaigning for legislation for the Dry Needling practice  in Idaho for Physical Therapists.  

For several years the primary legislative and practice goal for the Idaho chapter has been to obtain the ability for therapists to perform dry needling. We have studied extensively how best to secure this right for our therapists. First obtaining an attorney general’s favorable opinion for this ability was sought. Unfortunately, in the distant past an informal opinion was given which did not support therapists’ ability to perform dry needling and this has remained the feeling from the AG office. With this history in place, the Idaho Physical Therapy Licensing Board has been unable to declare that dry needling is in the scope of practice and has deferred all questions about the efforts of allowing therapists to perform dry needling to the Idaho Physical Therapy Association. This has left us with the pursuit of legislation as the primary avenue to allow therapists to perform dry needling. We would like to join neighboring states of Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada in providing dry needling for our patients.

We feel that the “Iron is Hot” at this time to achieve our primary legislative priority due to the positive climate of the legislature and the recent emphasis on decreasing opioid misuse in the state. It is time to strike.

Thank you for your contributions to this cause.  All funding will be used soley to pay our lobbiest at Risch Pisca Firm.