| 1 | 1 | | 89R15491 GP-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Money H.B. No. 4727 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the authority of a physical therapist to treat a patient |
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| 10 | 10 | | without a referral. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 453.301(a), Occupations Code, is amended |
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| 13 | 13 | | to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (a) A physical therapist may treat a patient for an injury |
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| 15 | 15 | | or condition in a manner described by Section 453.005 without a |
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| 16 | 16 | | referral [if the physical therapist: |
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| 17 | 17 | | [(1) has been licensed to practice physical therapy |
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| 18 | 18 | | for at least one year; |
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| 19 | 19 | | [(2) is covered by professional liability insurance in |
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| 20 | 20 | | the minimum amount required by board rule; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | [(3) either: |
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| 22 | 22 | | [(A) possesses a doctoral degree in physical |
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| 23 | 23 | | therapy from: |
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| 24 | 24 | | [(i) a program that is accredited by the |
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| 25 | 25 | | Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; or |
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| 26 | 26 | | [(ii) an institution that is accredited by |
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| 27 | 27 | | an agency or association recognized by the United States secretary |
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| 28 | 28 | | of education; or |
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| 29 | 29 | | [(B) has completed at least 30 hours of |
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| 30 | 30 | | continuing competence activities in the area of differential |
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| 31 | 31 | | diagnosis]. |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 2. The heading to Section 453.302, Occupations |
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| 33 | 33 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 34 | 34 | | Sec. 453.302. PROVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE [TREATING |
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| 35 | 35 | | PATIENT WITHOUT REFERRAL]. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. Section 453.302(b), Occupations Code, is amended |
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| 37 | 37 | | to read as follows: |
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| 38 | 38 | | (b) In an emergency circumstance, including a minor |
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| 39 | 39 | | emergency, a physical therapist may provide emergency medical care |
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| 40 | 40 | | to a person to the best of the therapist's ability [without a |
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| 41 | 41 | | referral from a referring practitioner]. |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 4. The following provisions of the Occupations Code |
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| 43 | 43 | | are repealed: |
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| 44 | 44 | | (1) Section 453.001(9); |
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| 45 | 45 | | (2) Sections 453.301(a-1), (a-2), and (b); and |
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| 46 | 46 | | (3) Section 453.302(c). |
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| 47 | 47 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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