RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 396 (SB 291) 2016 Regular Session Mills
Prior law authorized a physical therapist to perform an initial evaluation or consultation of
a screening nature to determine the need for physical therapy without a prescription or
referral. New law retains these provisions.
Prior law provided that except under certain circumstances, physical therapy treatment may
be implemented only based on the prescription or referral of a person licensed to practice
medicine, surgery, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic.
New law authorizes a physical therapist to treat a condition within the scope of physical
therapy, other than under circumstances already authorized in current law, with or without
a prescription or referral of a person licensed to practice medicine, surgery, dentistry,
podiatry, or chiropractic if the physical therapist meets one of the following criteria:
(1)The physical therapist has a doctorate in physical therapy from an accredited
institution.
(2)The physical therapist has five years of licensed clinical practice experience.
New law requires the physical therapist, if after 30 calendar days of implementing physical
therapy treatment the patient has not made measurable or functional improvement, to refer
the patient to an appropriate healthcare provider.
New law prohibits a physical therapist from rendering a medical diagnosis of a disease.
Effective upon signature of the governor (June 6, 2016).
(Amends R.S. 37:2418(B) and (C)(intro para), 2420(B) and (C))