Under current law, a physical therapist is prohibited from initiating treatment for a new injury or illness without a prescription from an approved health care provider. This act allows a physical therapist to evaluate and initiate treatment on a patient without a prescription or referral from an approved provider.

Current law allows a physical therapist to examine and treat any person with a recurring self-limited injury within one year of diagnosis by an approved health care provider, or a chronic illness that has been previously diagnosed, without the prescription and direction of an approved health care provider. Physical therapists are required to contact the patient's provider within 7 days of initiating services, not change an existing referral available without approval of the patient's provider, refer an approved health care provider to any patient whose medical condition is determined to be beyond the scope of practice of the physical therapist, refer a health care provider to any patient whose condition for which the services have not been improving after 6 visits, or 14 days, and notify the patient's provider prior to the continuation of treatment.

This act repeals such provisions, and requires a physical therapist to refer to an approved health care provider any patient whose condition is determined to be beyond the scope of practice, or any patient who does not demonstrate measurable or functional improvement after 10 visits or 21 business days, or consult with a provider if, after such time, the patient has demonstrated measurable or functional improvement and the therapist believes that continuation of physical therapy or treatment is reasonable and necessary. The physical therapist, however, is prohibited from providing further services after such time period until a consultation with the health care provider has occurred. Continued physical therapy services or treatment following the consultation with a provider shall proceed in accordance with the direction of the provider, and the physical therapist shall notify the provider of continuing physical therapy services every 30 days after the initial consultation, unless otherwise directed.

This act repeals the provision of current law providing that certain physical therapy treatments may be delegated by physical therapists to physical therapist assistants if the patient's provider has been informed.

This act repeals the provision of current law permitting the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts to file a complaint with the Administrative Hearing Commission against any physical therapist who is practicing or offering to practice professional physical therapy independent of the prescription and direction of a person licensed and registered as a physician and surgeon, physician's assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice registered nurse, and instead allows such a complaint to be filed against any candidate for licensure or any licensed physical therapist who evaluates or treats a patient in a manner inconsistent with the act.

This act is substantially similar to HCS/SB 164 (2019), and HCS/SB 204 (2019), and is similar to HB 2090 (2018).

JOSIE BUTLER