Title: Physical Therapy

Summary: Authorizes physical therapist to implement physical therapy treatment plans of specified duration which are developed by physical therapist or provided by practitioner of record or ARNP.

Full Text:
An act relating to physical therapy; amending s. 486.021, F.S.; authorizing a physical therapist to implement physical therapy treatment plans of a specified duration which are developed by the physical therapist or provided by a practitioner of record or an advanced registered nurse practitioner; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section.Subsection (11) of section 486.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 486.021 Definitions.-In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the term: (11) "Practice of physical therapy" means the performance of physical therapy assessment sand the treatment of any disability, injury, disease, or other health condition of human beings, or the prevention of such disability, injury, disease, or other condition of health, and rehabilitation as related thereto by the use of the physical, chemic al, and other properties of air; electricity; exercise; massage; the performance of acupuncture only upon compliance with the criteria set forth by the Board of Medicine, when no penetration of the skin occurs; the use of radiant energy, including ultravio let, visible, and infrared rays; ultrasound; water; the use of apparatus and equipment in the application of the foregoing or related thereto; the performance of tests of ENROLLED CS/HB 2013 Legislature neuromuscular functions as an aid to the diagnosis or treatment of any human conditio n; or the performance of electromyography as an aid to the diagnosis of any human condition only upon compliance with the criteria set forth by the Board of Medicine. (a) A physical therapist may implement a plan of treatment developed by the physical th erapist for a patient or provided for a patient by a practitioner of record or by an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under s. 464.012.The physical therapist shall refer the patient to or consult with a health care practitioner of record licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 460, chapter 461, or chapter 466, if the patient's condition is found to be outside the scope of physical therapy. If physical therapy treatment for a patient is required beyond days for a condition not pre viously assessed by a practitioner of record, the physical therapist shall obtain a practitioner of record who will review and sign the plan. For purposes of this paragraph, a health care practitioner licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 460, chapter 461, or chapter and engaged in active practice is eligible to serve as a practitioner of record. (b) The use of roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and the use of electricity for surgical purposes, including cauter ization, are not authorized under the term "physical therapy" for purposes of as used in this chapter. (c) The practice of physical therapy as defined in this chapter does not authorize a physical therapy practitioner to practice chiropractic medicine as defined in chapter 460, including specific spinal manipulation. For the performance of ENROLLED CS/HB 2013 Legislature specific chiropractic spinal manipulation, a physical therapist shall refer the patient to a health care practitioner licensed under chapter 460. (d) Nothing in This subsection does not authorize authorizes a physical therapist to implement a plan of treatment for a patient currently being treated in a facility licensed pursuant to chapter 395. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.