HB232 - Physical Therapy Practice

• Licensed physical therapists with a doctorate in physical therapy or master's degree plus 10 years of clinical experience may conduct initial screenings and treat patients for non-work-related conditions without a referral, except they must refer patients after 30 calendar days or 11 visits if no beneficial response occurs.

• Adds definition of "physical therapy referrer" as physicians, dentists, chiropractors, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse practitioners in collaborative practice agreements.

• Physical therapists are prohibited from ordering or interpreting radiologic or medical imaging, ordering diagnostic testing, prescribing medications, admitting or discharging patients, treating post-surgical patients within 90 days without referral, and performing sports physicals or concussion evaluations without physician clearance.

• Physical therapists treating patients without referrals must maintain professional liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate, and must provide written disclosure that their assessment is not a medical diagnosis.

• Shields physical therapy referrers from civil or criminal liability for services provided without referral; prohibits physical therapists from using the term "doctor" unless immediately followed by "Doctor of Physical Therapy," "DPT," or "PT."