The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding the authority of physical therapists to order imaging. Under the new law, a physical therapist would be allowed to order imaging only for patients with whom they have an established patient relationship and where there is a clinical need for the imaging. This change is reflected in the insertion of new language that specifies this requirement, while the current specification that limits imaging to musculoskeletal types and plain film radiographs would be removed.

Additionally, the bill maintains the requirement that imaging must be performed by an authorized healthcare practitioner and interpreted by a licensed physician trained in radiology. The existing obligation for physical therapists to report imaging results to the patient's healthcare practitioner within seven days remains unchanged, but the bill clarifies that this reporting applies to all imaging tests ordered under the new provisions. Overall, the bill updates the current law to broaden the scope of imaging that physical therapists can order while ensuring that it is done within a defined patient relationship context.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 32-2041.01
House Engrossed Version: 32-2041.01
Chaptered Version: 32-2041.01