SLS 15RS-252 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 19
BY SENATOR MILLS
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS. Directs the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board to create the
Physical Therapy Patient Access Review Committee.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To direct the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board to create the Physical Therapy Patient
3 Access Review Committee.
4 WHEREAS, the practice of physical therapy is the evaluation and treatment of any
5 physical or medical condition to restore normal function of the neuromuscular and skeletal
6 system, to relieve pain, or to prevent disability by use of physical or mechanical means,
7 including therapeutic exercise, mobilization, passive manipulation, therapeutic modalities,
8 and activities or devices for preventative, therapeutic, or medical purposes, and further shall
9 include physical therapy evaluation, treatment planning, instruction, consultative services,
10 and the supervision of physical therapy supportive personnel, including physical therapist
11 assistants; and
12 WHEREAS, since the 1970s, the United States uniformed services, the United States
13 Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the United States Public
14 Health Service have eliminated the professional practice restriction regarding referral to
15 physical therapy services; and
16 WHEREAS, eighteen states have unrestricted patient access to physical therapy
17 services; and
18 WHEREAS, Louisiana is one of ten states that have the most restrictive and limited
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1 patient access to physical therapy whereby access to physical therapy is limited to
2 evaluation, wellness, and a limited treatment patient population, including but not limited
3 to access to patients with a previous diagnosis or previous referral; and
4 WHEREAS, Louisiana enacted a less restrictive form of patient access to physical
5 therapist services in 2003, and there have not been adverse health or safety issues related to
6 increased access to physical therapy services since the law took effect; and
7 WHEREAS, the restrictions and provisions tied to the current patient access law are
8 a barrier to access, resulting in increased healthcare costs and preventing a majority of the
9 patient population from seeing their physical therapist unless they have a referral; and
10 WHEREAS, studies have shown that improved patient access to physical therapist
11 services promotes a free-market health care environment, reduces health care costs, and
12 improves patient outcomes thereby promoting the public health, safety, and welfare; and
13 WHEREAS, if following the physical therapy evaluation and diagnosis the physical
14 therapist determines that a patient requires treatment and care that is outside the physical
15 therapist's scope of practice, the physical therapist informs the patient and client and refers
16 him to an appropriate medical professional.
17 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
18 direct the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board to create the Physical Therapy Patient Access
19 Review Committee with the membership to include at least the individuals listed hereinafter.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall investigate the potential
21 benefits of removing the current restrictions tied to patient access to a physical therapist's
22 services by allowing direct patient access to a physical therapist's services without
23 restrictions and report its findings and make recommendations to the legislature.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall be staffed and meetings of
25 the committee hosted by the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall include the following
27 members:
28 (1) The commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Insurance or his designee.
29 (2) The president of the Louisiana Senate or his designee.
30
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SLS 15RS-252 ORIGINAL
1 (3) The speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives or his designee.
2 (4) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals or his designee.
3 (5) The executive director of the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board or his designee.
4 (6) The executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners or his
5 designee.
6 (7) The executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Chiropractic Examiners
7 or his designee.
8 (8) The president of the Louisiana Physical Therapy Association or his designee.
9 (9) The chief executive officer of the Louisiana State Medical Society or his
10 designee.
11 (10) The chief executive officer of the Louisiana Association of Health Plans or his
12 designee.
13 (11) The assistant chief of physical therapy services at Bayne-Jones Army
14 Community Hospital and captain of the United States Army or his designee.
15 (12) The dean of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Allied
16 Health Professionals, New Orleans, or his designee.
17 (13) The dean of Louisiana State University Health Shreveport School of Allied
18 Health Professions or his designee.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the committee shall serve
20 without compensation except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be
21 individually entitled as members of the constituent organizations.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the executive director of the Louisiana Physical
23 Therapy Board or his designee shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairperson of the committee shall call the
25 first meeting of the committee on or before September 1, 2015.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall
27 constitute a quorum of the committee, and any official action by the committee shall require
28 an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee may conduct such meetings at
30 such times as it deems necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively
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1 its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this Resolution.
2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall submit a report of its
3 findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than January 15, 2016.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the authority of the committee shall terminate
5 upon submission of the report to the legislature.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
7 commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Insurance, the secretary of the Department of
8 Health and Hospitals, the executive director of the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board or his
9 designee, the executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the
10 director of the Louisiana State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the president of the
11 Louisiana Physical Therapy Association, the chief executive officer of the Louisiana State
12 Medical Society, the chief executive officer of the Louisiana Association of Health Plans,
13 assistant chief of physical therapy services at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, the
14 chancellor of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Allied Health
15 Professionals, New Orleans, and the chancellor of Louisiana State University Health
16 Shreveport School of Allied Health Professions.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christopher D. Adams.
DIGEST
SCR 19 Original 2015 Regular Session Mills
Directs the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board to create the Physical Therapy Patient Access
Review Committee.
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