Relating to five-needle protocol; and prescribing an effective date.
Summary
HB 2143 creates a new regulatory framework for the “five-needle protocol,” a standardized ear-based treatment that uses five specific points on the outer ear and is intended to provide temporary relief from symptoms associated with substance use disorder, mental health conditions, or trauma. The bill places this practice under the Oregon Medical Board’s authority and allows the board to create a registry for qualified providers, set training and education standards, establish fees, require sanitation and best-practice rules, and adopt disciplinary procedures. It also authorizes criminal records checks for applicants, renewals, and certain investigations.
The bill limits who may provide the five-needle protocol: generally only individuals registered under the new section may do so, while licensed acupuncturists may provide it without separate registration. It also clarifies that non-acupuncturists may not hold themselves out as acupuncturists or otherwise imply they are authorized to practice acupuncture. The bill amends Oregon’s acupuncture statute to make clear that existing law does not interfere with the five-needle protocol when it is provided in compliance with the new registration requirements. The new provisions and amendments become operative on March 1, 2026.
Impact
HB 2143 adds new provisions to ORS chapter 677 and amends ORS 677.761 to carve out the five-needle protocol from existing acupuncture restrictions, while preserving the distinction between registered five-needle providers and licensed acupuncturists. The Oregon Medical Board gains rulemaking and enforcement authority over registration, renewal, discipline, sanitation standards, and background checks for this practice. The bill affects providers of ear-acupuncture-style services, acupuncturists, and potentially treatment programs or practitioners offering services related to substance use disorder, mental health, and trauma support.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support. It passed the House committee unanimously, passed the House floor 51-0, passed the Senate committee unanimously, and passed the Senate floor 27-2. The vote pattern suggests general agreement on creating a regulated pathway for the five-needle protocol and clarifying its relationship to acupuncture law, with only limited opposition in the Senate.
Contention
The main policy issue is how to regulate the five-needle protocol without treating it as full acupuncture practice. Supporters appear to favor a formal registration system to ensure training, sanitation, and accountability for a treatment used in behavioral health and trauma contexts. Potential concerns likely center on scope-of-practice boundaries, whether the protocol should be reserved to licensed acupuncturists or opened to other trained providers, and the extent of Oregon Medical Board oversight, including fees, criminal background checks, and disciplinary authority. The narrow Senate opposition suggests some disagreement remained, but the bill was otherwise not notably contentious.