HB 232 — Scope of practice of physical therapists

HB232 ENGROSSEDENROLLED HB232 4NYWIIR-24NYWIIR-3 By Representative Hulsey RFD:

27-Feb-24 Page 0 HB232 EngrossedEnrolled 2Enrolled, AAn BILLAct, TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 7 Relating to the practice of physical therapy;

"§34-24-191 Page 1 HB232 Engrossed (a) For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall terms have the following meanings respectively ascribed by this section:

Page 1 HB232 Enrolled (2) COMMISSION.

The inability of a physical therapy licensee to practice physical therapy with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, inebriation, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, alcohol, chemicals, or Page 2 HB232 Engrossed other substances, or as a result of any physical or mental condition.

A person who assists Page 2 HB232 Enrolled in the practice of physical therapy and whose activities require an understanding of physical therapy but do not require professional or advanced training in the anatomical, biological, and physical sciences involved in the practice of physical therapy.

provided, that physical therapy shall be practiced only upon the referral of a physician licensed to practice medicine or surgery, a dentist licensed to practice dentistry, a licensed chiropractor, a licensed assistant to a physician acting pursuant to a valid supervisory agreement, or a licensed certified registered nurse practitioner in a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed physician, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, as well as any other means or methods taught in schools or colleges which are recognized Page 3 HB232 Engrossed by the Alabama Board of Physical Therapy, so long as they do not conflict with any other provision of this article.

A person trained under the direction of a physical therapist who performs designated and Page 3 HB232 Enrolled supervised routine tasks related to physical therapy services.

A physician licensed to 95 practice medicine or surgery, a dentist licensed to practice dentistry, a licensed chiropractor, a licensed assistant to a physician acting pursuant to a valid supervisory agreement, or a licensed certified registered nurse practitioner in a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed physician.

95 (12)(13) PHYSIOTHERAPIST.

For a physical therapist assistant, a license on Page 4 HB232 Engrossed which the board has placed any restriction.

Section 34-24-210.1, as last amended by Act 2023-480, 2023 Regular Session, Code of Alabama 1975, is Page 4 HB232 Enrolled amended to read as follows:

Page 5 HB232 Engrossed (4) Related to conditioning or to providing education or activities in a wellness setting for the purpose of injury prevention, reduction of stress, or promotion of fitness.

(5) To an individual for a previously diagnosed condition or conditions for which physical therapy services Page 5 HB232 Enrolled are appropriate after informing the health care provider rendering the diagnosis.

(d)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, Page 6 HB232 Engrossed and except with respect to patients seeking treatment for work-related injuries, infirmities, diseases, or conditions which do not provide any basis for establishing a claim or right to recover under Alabama's Workers Compensation Act, Section 25-5-1 et seq., a physical therapist meeting the Page 6 HB232 Enrolled educational requirements of subsection (a), without a referral, may perform an initial screening evaluation or consultation for patients with non-work related injuries, infirmities, diseases, or conditions to determine the need for physical therapy, establish a plan of care, and initiate physical therapy services without a referral.

A patient of a nursing home pursuant to the plan of care for the patient developed by the medical staff of the Page 7 HB232 Engrossed nursing home.

The diagnosis shall have been made within the Page 7 HB232 Enrolled immediately preceding 120 days.

(h) A physical therapist is prohibited from doing any Page 8 HB232 Engrossed of the following:

Page 8 HB232 Enrolled (3) Ordering or interpreting any diagnostic testing, including clinical laboratory tests.

(9) Performing physical therapy on any individual who has undergone a surgical procedure for a diagnosed condition within the previous 90 days without a referral from a physical Page 9 HB232 Engrossed therapy referrer.

Page 9 HB232 Enrolled (i) No physical therapy referrer shall be civilly liable for any act, omission, advice, care, or service provided by a physical therapist or other individual providing physical therapy services without a referral.

(l) Nothing in this act shall permit a licensed athletic trainer employed by a physical therapist to operate outside of his or her respective scope of practice, or in conflict with the Alabama Athletic Trainers Licensure Act, Page 10 HB232 Engrossed including requirements to work under the direction of a licensed physician.

A physical therapist may not require a licensed athletic trainer, who is employed by the physical therapist to provide athletic training services, to refer patients to the clinic or facility where the physical Page 10 HB232 Enrolled therapist is employed.

Page 11 HB232 EngrossedEnrolled House________________________________________________ Speaker of Representativesthe ReadHouse forof theRepresentatives first________________________________________________ timePresident and referredPresiding ................27-Feb-24Officer toof the Senate House of Representatives committeeI onhereby Healthcertify Readthat for the secondwithin timeAct originated in and placedwas ................04-Apr-24passed onby the calendar:House 09-Apr-24, as amended.

0 amendments Read for the third time and passed ................09-Apr-24 as amended Yeas 95 Nays 3 Abstains 5 John Treadwell Clerk Senate 08-May-24 Passed Page 12