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2001 SESSION

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SB 1367 Physical therapy.

Introduced by: Richard L. Saslaw | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION: (all summaries)

Physical therapy. Provides limited direct access to physical therapy. This bill authorizes physical therapists who have actively practiced upon the referral and direction of a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, podiatry or dental surgery for three years, to treat a patient for 14 days without referral if the patient has previously been referred for physical therapy within two years, the physical therapy is being provided for the same injury, disease or condition as indicated in the referral, and the physical therapist notifies the practitioner identified by the patient no later than three days after treatment begins. Treatment for more than 14 days will require a referral. Other limited exceptions are provided for a one-time evaluation of a patient who has not been referred, services provided to student athletes during a game or other athletic activity, employees for evaluation and consultation related to workplace ergonomics, special education students whose individualized education plans indicate a need for physical therapy, the public for wellness, fitness, and health screenings, the public for the purpose of health promotion and education, and the public for the purpose of prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities. This bill also clarifies the definition of "practice of physical therapy" and notes that this practice does not include medical diagnosis of disease or injury. Invasive procedures are authorized when performed under the direction and referral of a licensed doctor of medicine, podiatry, or dental surgery. The physical therapist is also required to immediately refer any patient whose medical condition is determined to be beyond the physical therapist's scope of practice. Technical amendments are made to the Board of Medicine's and the Board of Physical Therapy's statutes to correct some inadvertent errors made when the Board of Physical Therapy was established last year. In addition, the Board is required to establish requirements to ensure continuing competency and to promulgate, pursuant to a second enactment clause, emergency regulations.


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