Rule 490-9-.05 Dry Needling (1) Dry needling is a skilled technique performed by a physical therapist using filiform needles to penetrate the skin and underlying tissues to affect change in body structures and functions for the evaluation and management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, pain, movement impairments, and disability for preventative and therapeutic purposes. (2) Dry needling must be performed by a licensed physical therapist who: (a) Has consulted with an individual licensed pursuant to Article 2 or 4 of Chapter 34 of Title 43; and, (b) Is specifically trained and competent by virtue of education and training to perform dry needling. Online study for dry needling instruction, with the exception of OSHA Blood Borne Pathogens Standards , will not be accepted as a demonstration of competence and training. (3) A physical therapist has demonstrated specific and competent education and training when the licensee has submitted the following documentation to the Board: (a) Proof of education in the OSHA Blood Borne Pathogens Standard: and, (b) At least one of the following: 1. Proof of graduation from an entry-level physical
Rule 490-9-.06 Telehealth (1) The purpose of this rule is to define and establish guidelines for the practice of telehealth by the spectrum of technologies involving interactive physical therapy services. (2) Telehealth has been defined as the use of electronic communications to provide and deliver a host of health- related information and health care services including, but not limited to physical therapy related information and services, over large and small distances. Telehealth encompasses a variety of health care and health promotion activities including, but not limited to, education, advice, reminders, interventions, and monitoring of interventions. All provisions of Physical Therapy utilizing telehealth mechanisms must: (a) conform to all Federal and State statutes, rules, regulations and policies governing the practice of physical therapy in the State of Georgia. (b) With the exception of practices and services identified in O.C.G.A. § 43-33-11(d), individuals providing physical therapy via telehealth to a patient/client in the State of Georgia must be licensed in the State of Georgia. (c) A physical therapist that is licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States may provide a consultation via telehealth to a physical therapist in the state of Georgia. CHAPTER 490-10 PREVENTATIVE SERVICES Rule 490-10-.01 Preventative Services A licensed physical therapist or a licensed physical therapist assistant under the supervision of an appropriately licensed physical therapist may perform Preventative services that are not considered “implementing a program of physical therapy treatment without consultation.” For purposes of this rule, “Preventative services” is defined as the use of physical therapy knowledge and skills by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant to provide education or activities in a wellness or community setting for the purpose of injury prevention, reduction of stress and or the promotion of fitness, but does not include administration of physical therapy treatment. CHAPTER 490-11 CONSULTATION Rule 490-11-.01 Consultation (1) For purposes of Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Section 43-33-18(a)(1): (a) “Consultation” shall mean provision of professional advice; (b) A “licensed practitioner of the healing arts” means any health practitioner who is licensed in the State to diagnose and treat individuals with the physical or mental disability or functional limitations at issue, and operating within the scope of practice defined in Title 43 Chapter 33. (c) For purposes of determining whether a licensed practitioner is appropriate, the physical therapist shall consider, but not be limited to, the following factors: 1. Physical condition of the patient; 2. Nature of ailment; 3. Extent to which the consulting practitioner has knowledge of the patient's history and condition such that an informed judgment can be made concerning course of treatment. (d) Physical therapists shall document the consultation
therapy program that included dry needling instruction consisting of a minimum of 50 hours total and a competency assessment of achievement in its curriculum; or 2. Proof of graduation from a post-graduate credentialed residency or fellowship program of study that included dry needling instruction consisting of a minimum of 50 hours total and a competency assessment of achievement in its curriculum; or 3. Proof of documented, successful completion of a didactic dry needling course of study consisting of a minimum of 50 hours total and a competency assessment of achievement in its curriculum.
(4) Effective July 1, 2018, to perform dry needling in the state of Georgia licensed physical therapists and physical therapists applying for licensure must submit documentation of dry needling education and training into the online recording and reporting system approved by the Board. (a) For the purposes of this requirement, the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy adopts the utilization of CE Broker. (b) Licensees and applicants shall incur no additional costs from CE Broker for this service. (c) Every licensee or applicant subject to the rules of the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy shall be deemed to have given such person's consent to the Board and its representatives to access their record retained within the online database for the purposes of auditing and verifying completion of the requirements for dry needling. Such person waives all objections to the admissibility of the record in any proceedings or hearings before the board. (5) At the time of license renewal, each licensed physical therapist approved to perform dry needling shall attest that he or she is practicing dry needling in the state of Georgia in accordance to the rules and regulations of the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy. (6) A violation of the provisions outlined in this Board rule or a false attestation on the renewal application is grounds for disciplinary action as determined by the Board.
with the appropriate licensed practitioner of the healing arts prior to implementing a program of physical therapy treatment.
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