HF3825: A Conversation About Minnesota's Scope of Practice Update

On May 20, 2025, Governor Walz signed HF3825 into law, marking the most significant update to Minnesota's acupuncture scope of practice in over 30 years. This bill was six years in the making, spanning three legislative sessions and three Minnesota Acupuncture Association (MAA) presidents.

In this conversation, MAA President Dr. Hilary Patzer and Legislative Committee Chair (and past MAA President) Dr. Nick Dougherty sit down to talk about what this scope update means, how it happened, and where Minnesota acupuncture goes from here.

What You'll Learn in This Conversation

This 28-minute conversation covers the full arc of HF3825, from its origins to signing day. Here's what Dr. Patzer and Dr. Dougherty discuss:

The origin story. How the MAA board made a deliberate shift from playing legislative defense to proactively building a scope of practice that reflects today's education, training, and clinical reality.

Why the update was needed. The previous scope served Minnesota well for 30 years, but had become generalized and outdated. Gray areas around billing for evaluation and management, intake procedures, and diagnostic examinations created confusion for practitioners and insurers alike. HF3825 eliminates that ambiguity.

The evolution of the bill. HF3825 was introduced across three bienniums and amended multiple times along the way. Dr. Dougherty explains the distinction between the "needs" (protecting the profession, modernizing definitions, removing gray areas) and the "wants" (items like acupuncture injection therapy that were ultimately removed to keep the bill viable). Every core need remained in the final version.

Working with allied health professions. One of the most notable aspects of this effort was the MAA's approach: collaboration over conflict. The team worked directly with chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, and dietitians to find common ground. During testimony, allied professions spoke in support of the bill. This was about patient access and patient safety for all Minnesotans.

The role of Nick Zerwas. The MAA's lobbyist, Nick Zerwas (a former state representative who previously sat on a relevant subcommittee), was instrumental in navigating the legislative process, guiding negotiations with other professions, and keeping the bill alive through setbacks.

The setbacks. In a prior session, the bill was cut from an omnibus package at the 11th hour alongside four other healthcare professions. That moment was devastating, but the lessons learned carried the team forward.

The moment it passed. The bill passed the Minnesota House 123 to 10 with bipartisan support, and the Minnesota Senate 42 to 24. Representatives on both sides of the aisle spoke in favor of it, praising the collaborative work of healthcare professions across the state. Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Patzer relive the day and the emotion of finally seeing six years of work become law.

What's next. HF3825 is not the finish line. It creates a modern, solid foundation that positions the MAA to continue advocating for the profession through future legislative sessions.

A Note About the People Behind This Work

Everything you see in this conversation was accomplished by volunteers. The MAA board members who worked on this bill did so on top of running their own practices and clinical schedules. The legislative sessions alone amounted to what Dr. Patzer describes as "basically running another full-time job." Nick Zerwas was the only compensated member of the team, and even that represents a modest portion of the MAA's budget.

This is what your MAA membership supports. Membership dues fund the legislative work, the lobbyist, and the advocacy infrastructure that made HF3825 possible. If you are not yet a member, or if your membership has lapsed, now is the time to join. The next scope conversation is already on the horizon, and the MAA needs your support to keep Minnesota acupuncture moving forward.

JOIN THE MAA / BECOME A MEMBER

Key People Referenced in This Conversation

Dr. Hillary Patzer, MAA President

Dr. Nick Dougherty, MAA Legislative Committee Chair, Past MAA President

Nick Zerwas, MAA Lobbyist, Former Minnesota State Representative

Senator Jim Abeler, Longtime ally of acupuncture in the Minnesota Senate

Senator Hoffman, Lead author of the Senate companion bill