Sub. HB 131 Summary

• Expands the definition of "physical therapy" to explicitly include physiotherapy, establishment and modification of physical therapy programs, treatment planning, patient education, and consultative services.

• Clarifies that physical therapists may administer topical drugs prescribed by licensed health professionals and perform design, fabrication, and revision of assistive devices including braces, splints, prosthetics, and orthotics.

• Changes application requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants from "notarized applications" to standard "applications" with no notarization requirement.

• Allows the physical therapy section to deny licensure for foreign-trained applicants if education is determined not reasonably equivalent to Ohio's requirements, with written notice and certified mail notification required within 30 days.

• Extends credentialing organization approval to include foreign physical therapist assistant education in addition to foreign physical therapist education.