The Florida Senate

468.80  Definitions.--As used in this act, the term:

(1)  "Agency" means the Agency for Health Care Administration.

(2)  "Board" means the Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists.

(3)  "Department" means the Department of Health.

(4)  "Orthosis" means a medical device used to provide support, correction, or alleviation of neuromuscular or musculoskeletal dysfunction, disease, injury, or deformity, but does not include the following assistive technology devices: upper extremity adaptive equipment used to facilitate the activities of daily living, including specialized utensils, combs, and brushes; finger splints; wheelchair seating and equipment that is an integral part of the wheelchair and not worn by the patient; elastic abdominal supports that do not have metal or plastic reinforcing stays; arch supports; nontherapeutic accommodative inlays and nontherapeutic accommodative footwear, regardless of method of manufacture; unmodified, over-the-counter shoes; prefabricated foot care products; durable medical equipment such as canes, crutches, or walkers; dental appliances; or devices implanted into the body by a physician. For purposes of this subsection, "accommodative" means designed with the primary goal of conforming to the individual's anatomy and "inlay" means any removable material upon which the foot directly rests inside the shoe and which may be an integral design component of the shoe.

(5)  "Orthotic fitter" means a person who is licensed to practice orthotics, pursuant to a licensed physician's written prescription, whose scope of practice is limited to fitting prefabricated cervical orthoses not requiring more than minor modification; pressure gradient hose; trusses; custom-molded therapeutic footwear; prefabricated spinal orthoses, except for those used in the treatment of scoliosis, rigid body jackets made of thermoformable materials, and "halo" devices; and prefabricated orthoses of the upper and lower extremities, except for those used in the treatment of bone fractures.

(6)  "Orthotic fitter assistant" means a person who is licensed to practice orthotics, pursuant to a licensed physician's written prescription, whose scope of practice is limited to fitting, without modification, prefabricated soft cervical orthoses; prefabricated soft spinal supports; pressure gradient hose; trusses; and soft prefabricated orthoses for the upper and lower extremities.

(7)  "Orthotics" means the practice, pursuant to a licensed physician's written prescription, of evaluating, treatment formulating, measuring, designing, fabricating, assembling, fitting, adjusting, servicing, or providing the initial training necessary to accomplish the fitting of an orthosis or pedorthic device; however, the repair, replacement, adjustment, or servicing of any existing orthosis may be performed without an additional prescription from the patient's physician, unless the original prescription states otherwise. If a patient is under the care of a licensed occupational therapist or physical therapist, the orthotist must consult with the therapist if the therapist has requested consultation regarding the fitting, design, or fabrication of an orthosis or regarding treatment with an orthosis.

(8)  "Orthotist" means a person licensed to practice orthotics pursuant to this chapter.

(9)  "Pedorthic device" means therapeutic shoes, shoe modifications made for therapeutic purposes, prosthetic fillers of the forefoot, and foot orthoses for use from the ankle and below, but does not include arch supports; nontherapeutic accommodative inlays and nontherapeutic accommodative footwear, regardless of method of manufacture; unmodified, over-the-counter shoes; or prefabricated foot care products. For purposes of this subsection, "accommodative" means designed with the primary goal of conforming to the individual's anatomy and "inlay" means any removable material upon which the foot directly rests inside the shoe and which may be an integral design component of the shoe.

(10)  "Pedorthics" means the practice, pursuant to a licensed physician's written prescription, of evaluating, treatment formulating, measuring, designing, fabricating, assembling, fitting, adjusting, servicing, or providing the initial training necessary to accomplish the fitting of a pedorthic device; however, the repair, replacement, adjustment, or servicing of any existing pedorthic device may be performed without an additional prescription from the patient's physician, unless the original prescription states otherwise. If a patient is under the care of a licensed occupational therapist or physical therapist, the pedorthist must consult with the therapist if the therapist has requested consultation regarding the fitting, design, or fabrication of a pedorthic device or regarding treatment with a pedorthic device.

(11)  "Pedorthist" means a person licensed to practice pedorthics pursuant to this chapter.

(12)  "Prosthesis" means a medical device used to replace a missing appendage or other external body part, including an artificial limb, hand, or foot. It does not include surgically implanted devices or artificial eyes; dental appliances; ostomy products; cosmetic devices such as breast prostheses, eyelashes, or wigs; or other devices that do not have a significant impact on the musculoskeletal functions of the body.

(13)  "Prosthetics" means the practice, pursuant to a licensed physician's written prescription, of evaluating, treatment formulating, measuring, designing, fabricating, assembling, fitting, adjusting, servicing, or providing the initial training necessary to accomplish the fitting of a prosthesis, except the repair, replacement, adjustment, or servicing of any existing prosthesis may be performed without an additional prescription from the patient's physician, unless the original prescription states otherwise. If a patient is under the care of a licensed occupational therapist or physical therapist, the prosthetist must consult with the therapist if the therapist has requested consultation regarding the fitting, design, or fabrication of a prosthesis or regarding treatment with a prosthesis.

(14)  "Prosthetist" means a person licensed to practice prosthetics pursuant to this chapter.

(15)  "Prosthetist-orthotist" means a person licensed to practice as a prosthetist and as an orthotist.

History.--s. 1, ch. 97-284.