HB232 Enrolled is a legislative bill that amends the Code of Alabama 1975, specifically Sections 34-24-191 and 34-24-210.1, to update the practice of physical therapy. The bill allows licensed physical therapists to conduct initial screenings and provide services for non-work related injuries without a referral, except for work-related issues. It introduces the term "physical therapy referrer" and sets educational requirements for physical therapists, limiting the number of patient visits without a referral and specifying prohibited acts. The bill also removes the obligation for physical therapists to inform the diagnosing health care provider before providing services and deletes the requirement for a diagnosis within the preceding 90 days and a plan of care within the first 15 days of intervention. Physical therapists with a doctorate or a master's degree with 10 years of experience, who meet certain licensing and examination criteria, can initiate services without a referral, provided they complete additional continuing education and refer patients not responding to therapy within 30 days or 11 visits.

The bill includes changes to the legal language, such as replacing "words and phrases shall" with "terms" and "patient/client" with "patient or client." It removes the provision that physical therapy must be practiced only upon referral from a licensed professional and deletes the use of "R.P.T." by physical therapists. The bill also outlines the civil liability protection for referrers, sets minimum professional liability insurance requirements for physical therapists, and grants the board authority to adjust these requirements. It restricts the use of the title "doctor" by physical therapists to those with a doctoral degree in physical therapy and specifies the use of "Doctor of Physical Therapy," "DPT," or "PT" in advertisements. Additionally, it ensures that athletic trainers employed by physical therapists adhere to their scope of practice and prohibits them from being required to refer patients to the employing clinic or facility. The bill clarifies that it does not create a mandate for health benefit plans to cover or reimburse the services described. The act will become effective on June 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34-24-191, 34-24-210
Engrossed: 34-24-191, 34-24-210
Enrolled: 34-24-191, 34-24-210