HB2359: Physical therapy; practice.

Legislative Summary

Practice of physical therapy. Eliminates the requirement that treatment by a licensed physical therapist for more than 60 consecutive days after evaluation of the patient occurs only upon the referral and direction of a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, podiatry, or dental surgery, a licensed nurse practitioner, or a licensed physician assistant acting under the supervision of a licensed physician. The bill also allows licensed physical therapists to practice dry needling without a referral if they are licensed to practice dry needling. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a licensed physical therapist may provide, without referral or supervision, physical therapy services to infants and toddlers who require physical therapy services to fulfill the provisions of their individualized services plans and students with disabilities who require physical therapy services to fulfill the provisions of their individualized education plans or physical therapy services provided under § 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The bill directs the Board of Physical Therapy to report, by December 1, 2024, to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions a summary of disciplinary actions taken against physical therapists whose conduct resulted in physical harm to a patient when such patient received dry needling treatment or more than 60 consecutive days of physical therapy treatment without a physician referral.