Legislative Sessions 2023-2024 (193rd)
The ASM continues to help push two important bills through the house and senate with the support of our sponsors. The Massachusetts legislature will be considering and voting on these bills. Both bills are critical to the acupuncture profession, for both practitioners and patients.
One bill is related to Dry Needling
What It is: An Act Relative to the Safer Treatment of Pain
H 2270 & S 1355 (has house and senate versions of the bill)
Sponsors: Rep. Jon Santiago and Senator Julian Cyr
What It Does: This legislation would ensure that all providers providing pain treatment with acupuncture/filiform needles are properly trained, vetted, regulated and licensed and will require licensed health care providers to have adequate training, clinical hours, independent testing and continuing education to validate and maintain their skills.
2/16 Referred to the Committee on Public Health
7/26 Hearing
One bill is related to Acupuncture Insurance
What It is: An Act Relative to the Practice of Acupuncture
H 1120 & S 722 (has house and senate versions of the bill)
Sponsor: Smitty Pignatelli
What it Does:
-Mandates insurance coverage for acupuncture in MA for the treatment of pain, nausea, PTSD, and to treat opioid addiction
-Establishes a commission on acupuncture and wellness within the public health department
-Covers state employees (about 200,000 people)
2/16 Referred to the Committee on Financial Services
Your Help Is Needed to Move These Bills Forward
During the legislative year we ask for your help in reaching out to specific legislators and committee heads that are reviewing and making recommendations on whether or not these bills are passed. Each time we ask, it is to help push the bill to the next group. We provide sample text and instructions and announce this information to our email list. If you are not receiving these notices, please consider becoming an ASM member or asking to be on the list by emailing
August 2023 – Please take action now!
August 2023: For the Dry Needling bill – a hearing was planned for Wed July 26th but was cancelled. You can still help to move this bill forward. We’d like you, as well as your patients, to email or call the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health to move this bill out of the committee favorably.
We’ve provied sample copy and instructions in the documents below.
DOWNLOAD Dry Needling Sample Letter for Licensed Acupuncturists
DOWNLOAD Dry Needling Sample Letter for Patients
June 26, 2023: For the insurance bill, we’d like you, as well as your patients, to email or write to your state senator and state representative as soon as possible. It is an urgent matter that we get an early hearing so that this bill will have the opportunity to make it to the floor this legislative session.
We’ve provided sample copy and instructions in the documents below.
DOWNLOAD Acu Insurance Sample Letter for Licensed Acupuncturists
DOWNLOAD Acu Insurance Sample Letter for Patients