Dry Needling for OTs and the 'Wellness' Win: Florida Legislative Update
I don’t know about you, but every time the Florida Legislature is in session, my blood pressure ticks up just a notch. As a clinic owner or a provider, you’re already juggling a million things, patient care, staffing, the occasional office leak, and of course, the ever-shifting world of insurance billing. Then, on top of all that, you have to keep an eye on Tallahassee to make sure the rules of the game haven't changed while you were busy actually helping people.
Well, it’s Friday, February 26, 2026, and I’ve been digging through the latest updates so you don’t have to. I talk to practice owners every single day here at Extra Mile Billing, and the common thread is always: "Aaron, what do I actually need to know to keep my practice running and compliant?"
Today, the news is actually... dare I say... good? We’ve got some major movement on dry needling for OTs, a massive shift in how PTs can bill for "wellness," and some federal breathing room for those of us who have embraced the telehealth life.
Phew! Let’s dive into it.
SB 914: Occupational Therapists Finally Get the Needle (The Good Kind)
For years, I’ve heard from our OT partners who felt a bit left behind. Their PT and chiropractic colleagues were utilizing dry needling to get incredible results for patients with musculoskeletal issues, while OTs were often stuck on the sidelines due to regulatory red tape.
That is finally changing.
SB 914 has been making some serious waves in the Senate Appropriations Committee. If you haven’t been following the play-by-play, here’s the high-level view: the bill authorizes licensed OTs to perform dry needling for musculoskeletal pain and movement issues. This isn't just about adding a new "tool to the shed", it’s about professional parity and giving our pediatric and adult OTs the ability to provide comprehensive pain management.
But, and there is always a "but" in healthcare, it’s not a free-for-all. I’ve seen some owners get excited and think they can start tomorrow. Wait! What? Not quite. The Board of Occupational Therapy Practice has set some pretty rigorous standards to ensure safety. To get certified, you’re looking at:
Two years of licensed practice: You need some skin in the game first.
50 hours of face-to-face CE: This has to be from an accredited entity and cover everything from theory to needle insertion and documentation.
25 supervised sessions: You need to prove you’ve got the psychomotor skills to do this safely.
The bill is set to take effect July 1, 2026. This gives you time to plan. I always tell my clients that new services mean new billing codes and new documentation requirements. If you’re planning on adding dry needling to your OT toolkit, start looking at your billing support now so you aren't scrambling when the law goes live.
The 'Wellness' Win: SB 1262 and HB 869
If there is one thing that used to drive me crazy when I was first learning the ropes of therapy billing, it was the "medical necessity" wall. You know the one. You have a patient who is doing great, and you want to transition them into a wellness or prevention program to keep them healthy, but the insurance company says, "Sorry, if they aren't 'broken,' we aren't paying."
It felt like we were being punished for doing a good job! Sound familiar?
SB 1262 (and its House companion HB 869) is trying to fix that for Florida PTs. The push here is to allow physical therapists to bill for "wellness and prevention" services without the usual administrative mountain of paperwork that comes with traditional "medical necessity" claims.
I’ve spent countless hours (and probably way too much coffee) staring at physician signatures and trying to justify why a child with a chronic condition needs ongoing maintenance. This bill acknowledges that PTs are movement experts who can prevent injuries before they happen.
For a private practice owner, this is a massive win for two reasons:
Revenue Diversification: It opens up a whole new category of services you can offer that are less likely to be clawed back during an audit.
Administrative Relief: Less time fighting for "necessity" means more time treating.
I realized I was doing it all wrong years ago by trying to fit "wellness" into "rehab" boxes. This legislation finally creates a box that actually fits. It’s about time.
Telehealth Relief: The 2027 Extension (HR 7148)
Let's shift gears to the federal level for a moment because this affects all of us, especially those of us running hybrid practices. The House just passed HR 7148, which extends the current Medicare telehealth flexibilities through 2027.
I don’t know about you, but I was genuinely worried about the "telehealth cliff." Many of our pediatric providers have found that telehealth is a game-changer for family participation, especially in rural parts of Florida. The thought of those flexibilities disappearing at the end of the year was, frankly, scary.
This extension provides some much-needed stability. It means we don't have to overhaul our entire delivery model overnight. If you're looking to optimize your telehealth setup or wondering how to make it more profitable, I’d suggest checking out our technology consulting page. We’ve helped a lot of practices make the switch to a permanent, sustainable hybrid model.
A Quick Shout-out to the SLPs: FLASHA Webinar
I don’t want my Speech-Language Pathology friends to feel left out! There is a really important FLASHA webinar coming up on March 10th regarding NPO status and dysphagia.
As someone who has seen the complexities of billing for dysphagia treatments (talk about a forensic billing nightmare if you get it wrong!), staying updated on the clinical side is just as important as the legislative side. If you're an SLP in Florida, make sure you're registered. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to keeping your NPO patients safe and your documentation bulletproof.
Why All This Matters for Your Bottom Line
I know, I know. I’ve already gone too long. But here’s the thing: keeping up with these changes isn't just about being a "good" therapist: it's about being a smart business owner.
When the laws change, the billing codes follow. When the billing codes follow, the insurance companies find new ways to deny your claims. It’s a cycle. (No-joke, I’ve seen practices lose thousands because they didn't update their contracts when new legislation passed).
Whether it’s preparing for the OT dry needling requirements or figuring out how to market your new "PT Wellness" program, you shouldn't have to do it alone. I’m a big believer in the "Work Smarter, Not Harder" philosophy.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the legislative updates or just tired of fighting with Sunshine Health over after-hours bonuses (seriously, have you seen the 20% secret?), we’re here to help.
I’ve "been there." I’ve sat at my desk at 9 PM wondering why a claim was rejected for a simple typo. It’s frustrating, it’s boring, and it’s a "necessary evil": but it doesn't have to be your burden.
Feel free to explore our all resources page for more deep dives into Florida-specific news. And if you’re ready to let someone else handle the "boring" stuff so you can get back to the "wellness" wins, you know where to find us.
Until next Friday, keep fighting the good fight in Tallahassee and in your clinics!
Aaron Marshall
CMO, Extra Mile Billing