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HA1TOHB165 • 2025

This Amendment to House Bill No.

This Amendment to House Bill No.

Healthcare Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Harris
Last action
2026-06-11
Official status
Passed 6/11/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text contains a typo ('dry needing' instead of 'dry needling') which was corrected based on context from the rest of the document.

Amendment Changing Medical Job Titles and Dry Needling Rules

This amendment updates job titles to 'physician associates' and 'APRNs,' allows them to perform dry needling without a doctor's referral, and sets the start date for these rules.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes references from 'physician assistants' to 'physician associates'.
  • Updates references from 'certified nurse practitioners' to 'APRNs'.
  • Allows physician associates and APRNs to perform dry needling on patients.
  • Removes the rule requiring a doctor's referral before these workers can do dry needling.
  • Sets the law start date as 12 months after passing or when new rules are published, whichever comes first.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Physician associates
  • APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses)
  • Patients receiving dry needling services

Terms To Know

Dry Needling
A treatment where thin needles are inserted into muscles.
APRN
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, a term replacing 'certified nurse practitioner' in this law.
Physician Associate
A medical professional whose title is updated from 'physician assistant' by this amendment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact start date depends on when regulations are published or the passage of time.
  • Physician associates and APRNs cannot call themselves acupuncturists unless they hold an acupuncture license.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-11 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed In House by Voice Vote

  2. 2026-05-19 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Placed With Bill

Official Summary Text

This Amendment to House Bill No. 165 changes references from “physician assistants” to “physician associates” in accordance with the changes made by House Bill No. 325 of this General Assembly, and changes references from "certified nurse practitioners" to "APRNs", allowing any APRN to perform dry needing, subject to the requirements of the Act. This Act also removes a requirement for an APRN or physician associate to have a physician referral before performing dry needling on a patient, as neither of these license types require referrals and both are able to write referrals for services.
This Amendment also changes the effective date from 6 months after enactment to 12 months or upon notice in the Register of Regulations that regulations implementing the Act have been adopted, whichever is earlier.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Harris

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

HOUSE BILL NO. 165

AMEND House Bill No. 165 on line 3 by deleting “Physician assistants;” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “Physician associates;”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 165 on line 9 by deleting “

physician assistant

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

physician associate

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 165 by deleting lines 14 through 18 as they appear therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“

(a) A physician associate may perform dry needling, but may not advertise or in any other way hold themselves out as an acupuncturist unless the physician assistant is a licensed acupuncturist.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 165 on lines 19 through 20 by deleting “

physician assistants.

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

physician associates.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 165 by deleting lines 33 through 37 as they appear therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“

An APRN may perform dry needling, but may not advertise or in any other way hold themselves out as an acupuncturist unless the APRN is a licensed acupuncturist.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 165 on lines 38 and 39 by deleting "

certified nurse practitioners.

" as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

APRNs.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 165 by deleting line 76 as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

"Section 4. This Act takes effect the earlier of the following:

1. 12 months after its enactment into law.

2. Upon notice in the Register of Regulations by the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, the Board of Nursing, and the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice that regulations promulgating this Act have been implemented.".

SYNOPSIS

This Amendment to House Bill No. 165 changes references from “physician assistants” to “physician associates” in accordance with the changes made by House Bill No. 325 of this General Assembly, and changes references from "certified nurse practitioners" to "APRNs", allowing any APRN to perform dry needing, subject to the requirements of the Act. This Act also removes a requirement for an APRN or physician associate to have a physician referral before performing dry needling on a patient, as neither of these license types require referrals and both are able to write referrals for services.

This Amendment also changes the effective date from 6 months after enactment to 12 months or upon notice in the Register of Regulations that regulations implementing the Act have been adopted, whichever is earlier.