President's Message
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
Our professional autonomy in the Commonwealth of Virginia has just advanced substantially, as I hope most of you are aware. Thank you all for your activism and grassroots efforts to support our Direct Access Bills! Your efforts have enabled us to advance our profession through this legislation.
This legislation becomes active on July 1, 2023. At that time, we will no longer have a time restriction on caring for a patient under Direct Access. In addition, we will no longer require a prescription/referral to perform Trigger Point Dry Needling. In the meantime, we will work with the Department of Health Professions and the Board of Physical Therapy to ensure a smooth and easy transition to the new regulations.
PLEASE BE AWARE: In accordance with the current law, you are permitted 60 days of Direct Access before requiring a prescription, and it is still necessary to obtain a prescription to perform Trigger Point Dry Needling until 7/1/2023.
In order to solidify this change, it is critical for each of us that utilizes these privileges to do so appropriately and correctly, in accordance with all legal and ethical guidelines. If you have questions regarding Direct Access or Dry Needling laws, please feel free to contact us.
While the legislation has been passed and signed, there is still work to be done. Now begins the process of thanking your legislators for supporting our bills — please do so, as they appreciate your feedback, and many have been instrumental in making this change possible. We are particularly grateful to Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Delegate Matthew Fariss for sponsoring our bills.
Our team will keep everyone updated on upcoming legislative agendas and further efforts to advance the profession. Thank you again for your advocacy and action!
Sincerely.
Tony Grillo, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
