Downloads
CS/HB 467 — Physical Therapy Practice
by Health and Human Services Committee and Rep. Stevenson and others (CS/CS/CS/SB 792 by Rules Committee; Banking and Insurance Committee; Health Policy Committee; and Senators Albritton and Harrell)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)
The bill provisions within the Physical Therapy Practice Act. The bill amends the definition of “physical therapy assessment” to provide that the purpose of such assessments is for physical therapy treatment as opposed to making recommendations for treatment. The bill amends the definition of “practice of physical therapy” to add modalities of treatment while removing other modalities, including those relating to a physical therapist’s performance of acupuncture, along with related restrictions and the Board of Medicine’s oversight of the criteria for such acupuncture. The bill adds definitions of “dry needling” and “myofascial trigger point.”
The bill provides that the practice of physical therapy does not authorize a physical therapist to practice acupuncture. The bill requires the Board of Physical Therapy Practice (Board) to establish minimum standards of practice for physical therapy relating to dry needling, including requirements for experience and education.
The bill requires the Department of Health to submit a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on or before December 31, 2022, detailing the number of physical therapists in the state, the number of physical therapists in the state performing dry needling, any increases or decreases in the number of physical therapists in the state by geographic area, and any adverse medical incidents as defined by the Board involving physical therapists in the state performing dry needling.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2020.
Vote: Senate 38-1; House 119-0