Tallahassee Wins: Dry Needling for OTs and the Early Steps Expansion Passed

I don’t know about you, but my coffee tasted a little bit better this morning. Maybe it was the extra splash of cream, or maybe it was the realization that, despite the usual political roller coaster in Tallahassee, our therapy community just scored some of the biggest wins we’ve seen in years.

If you’ve been following my updates lately, you know I’ve been keeping a close eye on the 2026 Florida Legislative Session. I talk to practice owners every single day who are exhausted. They’re exhausted by the billing hurdles, the changing regulations, and the constant “what-ifs” regarding their scope of practice. I’ve sat on the phone with OTs who were frustrated that they couldn’t offer the same manual techniques as their PT counterparts, and I’ve listened to pediatric clinic owners worry about the “cliff” their Early Steps kids hit when they turn three.

Well, I have some news that might make your Friday a whole lot brighter. Phew! We actually did it. (Or rather, the advocates in Tallahassee did it, but we get to celebrate the results!)

Here is your March 2026 news roundup. Let’s dive into the wins.

A Massive Win for OTs: Dry Needling is Officially Moving Forward (HB 867)

This is the big one. I’m going to go ahead and say it: HB 867 is a game-changer for Occupational Therapists in Florida. For years, there has been this awkward tension in clinics where PTs could perform dry needling, but OTs, who are equally masters of anatomy and upper extremity function, were left on the sidelines.

Well, the wait is effectively over. HB 867 passed both chambers of the legislature and is now on its way to the Governor’s desk. Assuming it gets the signature (which we fully expect), OTs will finally have the authority to perform dry needling in the state of Florida.

I was reading through the final bill text, and I want to break down what this actually looks like for you because it’s not just a “flip of the switch” on July 1, 2026. There are some specific hoops you’ll need to jump through to stay compliant. From my perspective in the billing world, compliance is everything. If you don’t follow the rules, those claims aren’t getting paid, period.

What you need to know about the requirements:

• – Experience Matters: You must have at least two years of licensed practice as an OT.
• – The 50-Hour Rule: You’ll need to complete an approved 50-hour face-to-face continuing education course. No, you can’t just do this over Zoom while folding laundry. It has to be hands-on.
• – Supervised Sessions: You need to complete 25 patient sessions of dry needling under the supervision of someone who knows what they’re doing (either an OT with experience or a licensed PT who has been dry needling for at least a year).

I’ve had several OTs ask me if it’s worth the hassle. My answer? Absolutely. Expanding your scope of practice isn’t just about adding a new tool to your kit; it’s about therapy practice growth. It allows you to offer more comprehensive care, which leads to better outcomes and: let’s be honest: better retention.

Early Steps Expansion: Moving the Needle to Age 4 (SB 112)

If you work in pediatrics, you know the “Early Steps Cliff.” It’s that heart-wrenching moment when a child turns three, they’re no longer eligible for Early Steps, but they aren’t quite ready or eligible for school-based services or other programs. They fall through the cracks.

I’ve heard so many stories from clinic owners about children losing months of progress because of this arbitrary age cutoff. It’s been one of the most frustrating parts of the pediatric billing and authorization landscape.

But check this out: SB 112 unanimously passed the Senate. This bill officially sets the stage for Early Steps eligibility to extend to age 4.

Wait! What? Yep, you read that right. An entire extra year of eligibility.

This is massive for continuity of care. It means fewer interruptions in therapy and more time for providers to help families transition. From a billing standpoint, it simplifies things significantly for that transitional year. We’ve written before about the Early Steps expansion and other telehealth wins, and seeing this move forward is a huge relief.

The Tallahassee ‘Long Spring’: Why the Session Isn’t Quite Over

Now, I have to be the bearer of some slightly “meh” news. If you’ve been watching the news, you might have heard that the legislature didn’t finish on time. They’re calling it the “Long Spring.”

The budget disagreements between the House and the Senate were a bit… let’s call it “intense.” Because they couldn’t agree on the final numbers before the clock ran out, we are likely looking at some special sessions to hammer out the details.

But before you start panicking (I know, the word “special session” sounds like a headache), here is the silver lining: the policy wins we care about: like dry needling for OTs and the Early Steps expansion: are largely safe. These bills passed through their respective chambers on their own merits. The budget drama is mostly about where the money goes for big infrastructure and state-wide projects. Our therapy wins have already done the heavy lifting.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned to expect a little drama from Tallahassee. It’s like a season finale of a reality show where they stretch it out over three parts. We just have to stay patient while they count the pennies.

Better Standards for Our Kiddos in the ED

There’s one more “under the radar” win I want to mention. New rules regarding pediatric standards in Emergency Departments (EDs) are moving forward.

This might not seem like a direct “billing” win, but it’s a huge win for the pediatric community at large. It ensures that when a child ends up in an emergency room, there are specific protocols and equipment in place that are tailored for children, not just “small adults.” As someone who works with so many pediatric therapists, I know how much you care about the total well-being of your patients. This is a step toward a safer healthcare environment for all Florida kids.

How These Wins Impact Your Practice Growth

Whenever I see legislative wins like this, my brain immediately goes to: How does this help my clients grow their clinics?

If you are an OT owner, you should already be looking at CEU courses for dry needling. If you are a pediatric clinic owner, you should be looking at your caseload and identifying which families will benefit from that extra year of Early Steps eligibility.

I’ve realized over the years that the most successful practices aren’t just the ones with the best clinicians; they’re the ones that stay ahead of the curve. They see a policy change and they adapt before their competitors do.

However, I also know that with new services come new billing headaches. If you’re planning on adding dry needling, you need to make sure your insurance contracts actually cover it. There is nothing worse than performing a service and then getting a “denied” stamp because of a technicality. (Sound familiar?)

We’ve seen this happen with Humana denials and other major payers. Don’t let your hard-won legislative victories get eaten up by poor billing practices.

We’re In This Together

This has already been a whirlwind of a week, and I’m sure there will be more updates as the Governor starts signing these bills into law. I’ll be right here keeping an eye on the fine print so you don’t have to.

I truly love seeing the Florida therapy community come together to advocate for these changes. It’s not easy to move the needle in Tallahassee, but when we do, it makes a world of difference for the providers and the patients.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these changes: or if you just want to make sure your billing is ready for the new “dry needling era”: feel free to reach out. We’ve helped so many owners navigate billing support and forensic audits to make sure they are actually getting paid what they’re worth. You can check out some of our testimonials to see how we’ve helped other Florida practices stay afloat and thrive.

Let’s celebrate these wins this weekend. You’ve earned it!

If you have questions about how these bills might affect your specific billing setup, feel free to contact us. I’m always happy to chat about how we can go the “extra mile” for your practice.

You’ve got this!

– Aaron and the Extra Mile Team