An Act relative to safer treatment for pain

This bill establishes new regulations for licensed health care professionals in Massachusetts who perform dry needling, trigger point acupuncture, or intramuscular therapy to treat muscle pain. To practice these techniques, providers must complete extensive training, including 500 hours of didactic study and 150 hours of clinical practice, along with passing a third-party competency exam and obtaining specific certifications. The law also mandates that practitioners maintain malpractice insurance, obtain written consent from patients, document treatments in medical records, and report any significant adverse events to the Department of Public Health. Additionally, the Department of Public Health is required to create a standard set of competencies to ensure safe and competent practice of these procedures.