HCSHBs115&99--PHYSICALTHERAPISTS
SPONSOR: Shields
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonProfessionalRegistrationandLicensingbyavoteof
10to0.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
115and99.
Thisbillchangesthelawsregardingphysicaltherapistssothat
physicaltherapistsnolongerneedaprescriptionorreferralfrom
adoctorinordertoevaluateandinitiatetreatmentonapatient,
aslongasthephysicaltherapisthasaDoctorateofPhysical
TherapyDegreeorhasfiveyearsofclinicalpracticeasaphysical
therapist. However,thebilldoesrequireaphysicaltherapistto
refertoanapprovedhealthcareprovideranypatientwhose
conditionisbeyondthephysicaltherapist'sscopeofpractice,or
anypatientwhodoesnotdemonstratemeasurableorfunctional
improvementafter10visitsor21businessdays,whicheveroccurs
first.
Thephysicaltherapistmustalsoconsultwithanapprovedhealth
careproviderbeforecontinuingtherapyifafter10visitsor21
businessdays,whicheveroccursfirst,thepatienthasdemonstrated
measurableorfunctionalimprovementfromthephysicaltherapyand
thephysicaltherapistbelievesthatcontinuationofphysical
therapyisnecessary. Continuedphysicaltherapymustbein
accordancewithanydirectionofthehealthcareprovider. The
physicaltherapistmustnotifythehealthcareproviderof
continuingphysicaltherapyevery30days.Thebillremovesa
provisionthatallowstheStateBoardofRegistrationforthe
HealingArtstofileacomplaintagainstaphysicaltherapistwho
providesphysicaltherapywithoutaprescription.
ThisbillissimilartoHB1555(2022)andHB367(2021).
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisremovesbarriersandallows
forquickeraccesstocarewhichcanresultinlesscareneeded.
Wearecurrentlylosingoutontaxdollarsfrompatientscrossing
stateborderstoseeaphysicaltherapistwithoutareferral. TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Shields;
ChrisMarsh,P.T.,MoPhysicalTherapyAssociation;andJennifer
Schnieders,MissouriPhysicalTherapyAssociation.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatphysicaltherapists
cannotorderlabtestsandareunabletodiagnoseunderlying
issuesaswellasaphysiciancan.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwastheMissouriAssociation
ofOsteopathicPhysiciansandSurgeons.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillsayphysicaltherapistcare
isimportantandissueswithpreviousversionsofthebillhave
beenfixed.
TestifyinginpersononthebillwastheSignatureMedicalGroup.
OnlinetestimonycanbefoundunderTestimonyonthebillpageon
theHousewebsite.