SLS 16RS-161 REENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 291
BY SENATORS MILLS, BARROW, BOUDREAUX, BROWN, COLOMB, DONAHUE,
GATTI, LAFLEUR, LONG, MILKOVICH, MORRELL, PEACOCK,
PETERSON AND TARVER
HEALTH CARE. Provides for patient access to physical therapy services without a
prescription or referral from a physician. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:2418(B) and to repeal R.S. 37:2418(C) and (D), relative to
3 the practice of physical therapy; to authorize implementation of physical therapy
4 services in certain circumstances; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 37:2418(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §2418. Authority to practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant
9 * * *
10 B. Without prescription or referral, a physical therapist may perform an
11 initial evaluation or consultation of a screening nature to determine the need for
12 physical therapy and may perform physical therapy or other services provided in
13 Subsection C of this Section. However, implementation of A physical therapist
14 may implement physical therapy treatment shall otherwise be based on the with or
15 without a prescription or referral of a person licensed to practice medicine, surgery,
16 dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic. The physical therapist shall provide notice to
17 the health care provider of the patient’s choice within fifteen days of
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 291
SLS 16RS-161 REENGROSSED
1 implementing physical therapy treatment. If after thirty business days of
2 implementing physical therapy treatment the patient has not made measurable
3 or functional improvement, the physical therapist shall refer the patient to an
4 appropriate health care provider.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. R.S. 37:2418(C) and (D) are hereby repealed in their entirety.
7 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
8 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
9 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
10 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
11 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument was prepared by Christine Arbo Peck. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
SB 291 Reengrossed 2016 Regular Session Mills
Present law provides that except under certain circumstances as specified in present law,
physical therapy treatment may only be implemented based on the prescription or referral
of a person licensed to practice medicine, surgery, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic.
Proposed law revises present law to provide that a physical therapist may render physical
therapy treatment with or without a type of prescription or referral provided for in present
law.
Proposed law requires a physical therapist to provide notice to the health care provider of
the patient’s choice within 15 days of implementing physical therapy treatment. Also
requires a physical therapist to refer the patient to an appropriate health care provider if after
30 business days of implementing such treatment the patient has not made measurable or
functional improvement.
Proposed law repeals provisions of present law which become inapplicable pursuant to
proposed law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 37:2418(B); repeals R.S. 37:2418(C) and (D))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Requires a physical therapist to notify the health care provider of the patient's
choice within 15 days of implementing treatment.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 291
SLS 16RS-161 REENGROSSED
2. Requires a physical therapist to refer a patient to an appropriate health care
provider if after 30 business days of implementing treatment the patient has
not made measurable or functional improvement.
Page 3 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.