Senate Bill 11-169 Summary

• Creates a State Physical Therapy Board consisting of five licensed physical therapists and two public members, appointed by the governor for four-year terms, to regulate physical therapist licensure and practice effective September 1, 2018.

• Expands the scope of physical therapy to include general wound care (assessment and management of skin lesions, surgical incisions, open wounds, and potential skin breakdown) when performed under supervision of a licensed physician or appropriate healthcare professional.

• Establishes licensing requirements for physical therapist assistants, including certification by examination or endorsement, with effective date June 1, 2012, and requires assistants to work under supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

• Requires licensed physical therapists to maintain professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per claim and $3 million per year, with exemptions for public employees, and mandates continuing professional competency programs.

• Appropriates $101,814 in cash funds and 1.4 FTE for fiscal year 2011 to implement the new board structure and regulatory framework.