HF 3240 Summary

• Modifies the definition of physical therapy to explicitly include "prevention, wellness, fitness, health promotion, and education in populations of all ages."

• Changes supervision requirements for student physical therapists and student physical therapist assistants from requiring direct contact with patients during every second treatment session to requiring the supervising therapist to be "easily available" with direct contact occurring at least every second session.

• Allows physical therapist assistants supervising physical therapist assistants to use telecommunications supervision (except within facilities) instead of requiring on-site presence, while maintaining the limit of two assistants per physical therapist.

• Modifies delegation requirements for physical therapist assistants to allow "real-time, collaborative treatment sessions" via telehealth and requires documentation of plan of care appropriateness at least every six treatment sessions rather than on-site observation.

• Repeals section 148.65, subdivision 9 (definition of licensed health care professional) and section 148.77 (violations provision).