What's happening
This bill removes limits on how long patients can receive physical therapy without a referral, with new safeguards and notifications.
Why it matters
Expands patient access to physical therapy. by removing current caps on the number of visits or days a patient can see a physical therapist without a referral, potentially speeding up recovery and convenience for patients with direct access needs.
Adds new safeguards for patient safety. , requiring physical therapists to refer patients to appropriate medical professionals if symptoms suggest conditions outside the scope of physical therapy or when physical therapy could be harmful.
Increases communication and transparency. by mandating that physical therapists communicate with a patient’s primary care or treating provider during treatment (when the patient has one), ensuring continuity and coordination of care.
Enhances patient awareness of insurance limitations. , obligating therapists to provide written notice that insurance might not cover therapy without a referral, and requiring signed documentation to ensure patients are informed about potential out-of-pocket costs.
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Who cares
Licensed physical therapists
The bill would remove the ten-visit or thirty-day limit on treatment without a referral and eliminate the three-year full-time practice requirement for providing that treatment.
Patients seeking physical therapy without a referral
Patients could continue treatment beyond the current limit, but would still receive written notice that their health plan or insurer may not cover treatment without a referral.
Primary care providers and treating physicians
Physical therapists would have to maintain ongoing communication with them during treatment if the patient has such a provider.
Licensed professionals receiving patient referrals
Physical therapists would have to refer patients to an appropriate licensed professional when symptoms indicate that physical therapy is contraindicated or treatment falls outside its scope.
Headline styles
Let Therapists Treat Without Referral
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Physical Therapists Treat Directly
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6024
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to removing limits on the duration of treatment by a licensed physical therapist when a patient does not have a referral
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision d of section 6731 of the education law, as amended by chapter 389 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
d. Such treatment may be rendered by a licensed physical therapist [for ten visits or thirty days, whichever shall occur first,] without a referral from a physician, dentist, podiatrist, nurse practitioner or licensed midwife provided that:
(1) [The licensed physical therapist has practiced physical therapy on a full time basis equivalent to not less than three years.] The physical therapist will refer the patient to the appropriate licensed professional if symptoms are present of which physical therapy is contraindicated or which symptoms are indicative of conditions for which treatment is outside the scope of the practice of physical therapy;
(2) If the patient has a primary care licensed provider or other treating physician, the physical therapist provides ongoing communication with that professional during the course of treatment; and
(3) Each physical therapist licensed pursuant to this article shall provide written notice to each patient receiving treatment absent a referral from a physician, dentist, podiatrist, nurse practitioner or licensed midwife that physical therapy may not be covered by the patient's health care plan or insurer without such a referral and that such treatment may be a covered expense if rendered pursuant to a referral. The physical therapist shall keep on file with the patient's records a form attesting to the patient's notice of such advice. Such
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11566-01-7
S. 6024 2
form shall be in duplicate, with one copy to be retained by the patient, signed and dated by both the physical therapist and the patient in such form as prescribed pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to removing limits on the duration of treatment by a licensed physical therapist when a patient does not have a referral
Purpose
To amend the physical therapy practice act to better align with standards of best practice
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subdivision (d) of section 6731 of the education law to remove arbitrary limitations, which impede the delivery of quality health care and replace them with physical therapy standards of best practice.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Physical therapy is an integral part of New York's health care system. Physical therapists treat and rehabilitate a broad range of neuromusculoskeletal injuries and disease. All New York physical therapy educational programs require a doctoral degree. Physical therapists are trained extensively in the evaluation of a patient's condition and recognize those symptoms that require treatment by another provider.
In 2006, the physical therapy practice act was amended to permit physical therapists to treat patients without a referral with the limitation that the treatment may only last ten days or thirty days. The limitation, however, has interfered with appropriate and effective care in certain instances leading to unnecessary gaps in care and impeding recovery.
The bill would address the unintended consequences of the arbitrary and inflexible limitation by replacing it with physical therapy standards of best practice. First, the treating physical therapist must refer a patient to an appropriate health care provider if physical therapy is contra-indicated for the condition or if symptoms present which indicate a condition outside the scope of physical therapy. Second, the treating physical therapy must provide ongoing communication with the patient's primary care provider, if one exists, which will better coordinate care. These requirements better reflect quality health care standards and will address the negative impacts of the existing limitation on treatment without a referral.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
180 days after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.