ProviderPulse
Dry Needling Acceptable in Colorado
Clinical Corner
May 2011
Dry needling is a physical intervention to stimulate trigger points. It’s used as a diagnostic tool and to treat neuromuscular pain and functional movement deficits. The approach is based on Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles. Dry needling is not the same as acupuncture, which is a Chinese medicine technique.
Medical doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors and acupuncturists are using dry needling in their practices for treatment of myofascial pain and dysfunction.
Dry needling is considered to be within the scope of practice for physical therapists in the state of Colorado, according to the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Physical therapists must show successful completion of a minimum of 46 hours of face-to-face dry needling course study and two years of practice as licensed physical therapists prior to using the dry needling technique.
The billing codes for dry needling per the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DOWC) are:
- Z501 — single or multiple needles, one or two muscles (5.4 Relative Value Units)
- Z502 — three or more muscles (5.8 Relative Value Units)
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