06 LC
25 4408S/AP
House
Bill 801 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives McCall of the
30th,
Richardson of the
19th,
and Tumlin of the
38th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 43-33-18 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to refusal to grant or restore licenses of physical therapists, discipline of
licensees, and suspension, revocation, or restriction of licenses, so as to
provide for limited circumstances in which physical therapists may provide
services without referrals from appropriate licensed practitioners of the
healing arts; to provide for circumstances in which physical therapists may
treat patients for injuries or conditions that were the subject of prior
referrals by appropriate licensed practitioners of the healing arts; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 43-33-18 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to refusal
to grant or restore licenses of physical therapists, discipline of licensees,
and suspension, revocation, or restriction of licenses, is amended in subsection
(a) by striking the introductory language and paragraph (1) and inserting in
lieu thereof the following:
"(a)
The board shall have authority to refuse to grant or restore a license to an
applicant or to discipline a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant
licensed under this chapter or any antecedent law upon a finding by the board
that the licensee or applicant has:
(1)(A)
Implemented or
continued a program of physical therapy
treatment without consultation with an appropriate licensed practitioner of the
healing
arts, or
in; except
that a physical therapist may implement a program of physical therapy treatment
without consultation with an appropriately licensed practitioner of the healing
arts when:
(i)
Services are provided for the purpose of fitness, wellness, or prevention that
is not related to the treatment of an injury or ailment; or
(ii)(I)
The patient was previously diagnosed and received treatment or services for that
diagnosis and the patient returns to physical therapy within 60 days of
discharge from physical therapy for problems and symptoms that are related to
the initial referral to the physical therapist. In such a situation the
physical therapist shall notify the original referral source of the return to
physical therapy within five business days; and
(II)
The physical therapist holds a master or doctorate degree from a professional
physical therapy program that is accredited by a national accreditation agency
recognized by the United States Department of Education and approved by the
Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy or the physical therapist has completed
at least two years of practical experience as a licensed physical
therapist.
If
after 90 days of initiating physical therapy services the physical therapist
determines that no substantial progress has been made with respect to the
primary complaints of the patient, the physical therapist shall refer the
patient to an appropriately licensed practitioner of the healing arts. If at
any time the physical therapist has reason to believe that the patient has
symptoms or conditions that require treatment or services beyond the scope of
practice of the physical therapist, the physical therapist shall refer the
patient to an appropriately licensed practitioner of the healing arts;
or
(B)
In the case of practice as a physical therapist assistant, practiced other than
under the supervision and direction of a licensed physical
therapist;"
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.