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HB 2715

ACUPUNCTURE-5-NEEDLE PROTOCOL

104th Regular Session Introduced by La Shawn Ford and 8 co-sponsors

Allows unlicensed providers to perform ear-only 5-needle protocol for behavioral-health relief, with training and safety limits, under strict oversight.

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava
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Bill Summary · HB 2715

Summary — HB 2715: Acupuncture Practice Act — Exemption for 5‑Needle Protocol

Status: Signed by the Governor (6/20/2025); effective immediately
Statute amended: Acupuncture Practice Act (225 ILCS 2) — adds new Section 95

Purpose

HB 2715 creates a narrow statutory exemption to allow unlicensed individuals to perform a standardized “5‑needle protocol” (an ear‑based needling procedure commonly used in community/acudetox settings) under specified conditions. The goal is to permit community providers to offer this standardized ear‑needling intervention for relief from behavioral‑health related symptoms while setting minimum safety and consumer‑protection limits.

Key provisions

  • Adds new Section 95 to the Acupuncture Practice Act defining and authorizing the 5‑needle protocol.
  • Definition: the “5‑needle protocol” means a procedure that inserts up to five sterile needles into the external human ear to provide relief from effects of behavioral‑health conditions (texts vary between a strict “5 needles” and “up to 5 needles”; the enacted section limits insertion to the external ear).
  • Unlicensed persons may perform the 5‑needle protocol only if they:
    • Have appropriate training in the protocol (training established by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), the People's Organization of Community Acupuncture, or similar training approved by the Illinois Acupuncture Board);
    • Have training in clean‑needle techniques;
    • Use disposable, sterile, single‑use needles (reuse prohibited);
    • Do not claim to treat any specific disease, disorder, infirmity, or affliction;
    • Do not use titles, letters, words, or insignia implying they are an acupuncturist; and
    • Do not state or imply that their practice is licensed, certified, or regulated by the State.
  • The exemption is strictly limited to needle insertion in the ear. Any application/insertion of needles elsewhere on another person’s body by such a person is deemed the practice of acupuncture without a license and remains prohibited.

Who is affected

  • Unlicensed community providers, peer‑support and nonprofit programs that use the NADA/acudetox model.
  • Licensed acupuncturists (scope and consumer‑protection implications).
  • Patients/participants receiving ear‑based needling for behavioral‑health symptom relief.
  • Illinois Acupuncture Board (responsible for any approvals of equivalent training).

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced by Rep. Lilian Jiménez with multiple co‑sponsors.
  • Passed both chambers and signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025; effective immediately.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • May expand access to a low‑cost, community‑based ear‑needling intervention used in behavioral‑health and substance‑use settings.
  • Establishes minimum safety requirements (training, single‑use sterile needles) but allows provision outside licensed acupuncture practices, which could raise questions about oversight, enforcement, and clinical safety standards.
  • Preserves the licensed acupuncturist scope by prohibiting needling elsewhere on the body by unlicensed providers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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