Physical therapy changes

Licensed health care professionals and physical therapists would see definition and licensure changes, under a bill waiting for the governor’s signature.

Sponsored by Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth), HF1189/SF1018* would define a licensed health care professional or licensed health care provider as “a person licensed in good standing in Minnesota to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, podiatry, dentistry, or advanced practice nursing.”

It was approved 66-0 by the Senate April 3 and 132-0 by the House 11 days later.

The changes are a result of meetings with interested parties last interim.

Rep. Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud) said the bill “expands in a common sense way” for physical therapy treatment to continue without having to go back to a primary care doctor and pay an additional co-pay.

Physical therapists would be licensed to treat a patient for an initial period of 90 days, an extension from the 30 days in current law. Physical therapists could also continue to treat patients with a referral from certain advanced practice nurses made in collaboration with a physician, chiropractor, podiatrist or dentist. The 90-day limitation would not apply to prevention, wellness, education or exercise.

Physical therapists licensed less than one year would be prohibited from treating a patient without a referral. They would also be required to practice one year with a physical therapist who has more than one year of experience, or under a physician’s orders or referrals as verified by the board’s records.

The Board of Physical Therapy would be required to report to the Legislature by Jan. 15, 2010, any disciplinary actions taken against physical therapists whose conduct resulted in physical harm to a patient, but only if that conduct was a result of the changes made in this bill.