What's happening
The bill allows occupational and physical therapy assistants to provide workers' compensation injury treatments under direct supervision.
Why it matters
Expands access to care for injured workers. by allowing more providers—specifically, therapy assistants—to participate in delivering treatment, which could reduce wait times and improve recovery outcomes.
Introduces new oversight and accountability measures. by requiring direct supervision, signed treatment instructions, and detailed progress records, potentially improving treatment quality and documentation.
May help address workforce shortages. in physical and occupational therapy by leveraging assistants, which could be especially significant in underserved areas or during periods of high demand.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Therapy Assistants Treat Injuries
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to labor
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.166
- Print number 3969b
- Amend and recommit to labor
- Referred to labor
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to labor
Show 8 earlier actions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.638
- Print number 3969a
- Amend (t) and recommit to labor
- Referred to labor
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.
Expand Therapy Assistant Access
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3969--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 22, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on Labor in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to authorizing treatment of workers' compensation injuries by an occupational therapy assistant or physical therapy assistant
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 13-b of the workers' compensation law is amended by adding a new paragraph (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) Under the direct supervision of an authorized occupational therapist, occupational therapy services may be rendered by an occupational therapy assistant. Under the direct supervision of an authorized physical therapist, physical therapy services may be rendered by a physical therapist assistant. This supervision shall be evidenced by signed records of instructions for treatment and signed records of the patient's condition and progress. Reports of such treatment and supervision shall be made by such provider to the chair in the format prescribed by the chair at such times as the chair may require.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06525-06-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to authoriz- ing treatment of workers' compensation injuries by an occupational ther- apy assistant or physical therapy assistant
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill allows occupational therapist assistants to provide care to workers' compensation patients.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 13-b of the workers' compensation law as it relates to allowing occupa- tional therapy assistants to provide care to workers' compensation patients.
Section two of the bill contains to the effective date.
Justification
Occupational therapy assistants provide a valuable service. They prac- tice under the direction and supervision of a licensed occupational therapist or licensed physician and must meet stringent educational and experience requirements in order to be licensed by the State Education Department. Unfortunately, workers' compensation patients cannot receive care from an occupational therapy assistant. This bill would allow workers' compensation patients to receive care from an occupational therapy assistant that is licensed by the State Education Department.
Legislative history
S.3969/A.3753 of 2019 (Passed Senate) A.1396-B of 2017-18, A.1670 of 2015-16, A.7980 of 2013-2014.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.