Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/Code.cfm?chap=30&art=20
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 20:41:23+00:00

Document:
§30-20-4. West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy.
§30-20-5. Powers and duties of the board.
§30-20-7. Fees; special revenue account; administrative fines.
§30-20-8. License to practice physical therapy.
§30-20-9. Scope of practice of a physical therapist.
§30-20-10. License to act as a physical therapist assistant.
§30-20-11. License to practice physical therapy from another jurisdiction.
§30-20-13. Special volunteer physical therapist license, physical therapist assistant license; civil immunity for voluntary services rendered to indigents.
§30-20-15. Delinquent and expired license requirements.
§30-20-19. Complaints; investigations; due process procedure; grounds for disciplinary action.
§30-20-20. Procedures for hearing; right of appeal.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to practice or offer to practice physical therapy in this state without a license or permit issued under the provisions of this article, or advertise or use any title or description tending to convey the impression that they are a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant unless the person has been duly licensed or permitted under the provisions of this article, and the license or permit has not expired, been suspended or revoked.
(b) A business entity may not render any service or engage in any activity which, if rendered or engaged in by an individual, would constitute the practice of physical therapy, except through a licensee or permittee.
(c) A person who is not licensed under this article as a physical therapist may not characterize himself or herself as a "physical therapist", "physiotherapist", or "doctor of physical therapy", nor may a person use the designation "PT", "DPT", "LPT", "CPT", or "RPT".
(d) A person who is not licensed under this article as a physical therapist assistant may not characterize himself or herself as a "physical therapist assistant", nor may a person use the designation "PTA".
The practices licensed under the provisions of this article and the Board of Physical Therapy are subject to article one of this chapter, the provisions of this article, and any rules promulgated hereunder.
(1) "Applicant" means any person making application for an original or renewal license or a temporary permit under the provisions of this article.
(2) "Board" means the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy.
(3) "Business entity" means any firm, partnership, association, company, corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company or other entity providing physical therapy services.
(4) "Consultation" means a physical therapist renders an opinion or advice to another physical therapist or health care provider through telecommunications.
(5) "Direct supervision" means the actual physical presence of the physical therapist in the immediate treatment area where the treatment is being rendered.
(6) "General supervision" means the physical therapist must be available at least by telecommunications.
(7) "License" means a physical therapist license or license to act as a physical therapist assistant issued under the provisions of this article.
(8) "Licensee" means a person holding a license under the provisions of this article.
(9) "On-site supervision" means the supervising physical therapist is continuously on-site and present in the building where services are provided, is immediately available to the person being supervised, and maintains continued involvement in appropriate aspects of each treatment session.
(10) "Permit" or "temporary permit" means a temporary permit issued under the provisions of this article.
(11) "Permittee" means any person holding a temporary permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(12) "Physical therapy aide" means a person trained under the direction of a physical therapist who performs designated and routine tasks related to physical therapy services under the direction supervision of a physical therapist.
(13) "Physical therapist" means a person engaging in the practice of physical therapy who holds a license or permit issued under the provisions of this article.
(14) "Physical therapist assistant" means a person holding a license or permit issued under the provisions of this article who assists in the practice of physical therapy by performing patient related activities delegated to him or her by a physical therapist and performs under the supervision of a physical therapist and which patient related activities commensurate with his or her education and training, including physical therapy procedures, but not the performance of evaluative procedures or determination and modification of the patient plan of care.
(15) "Practice of physical therapy" or "physiotherapy" means the care and services as described in section nine of this article.
(16) "Telecommunication" means audio, video or data communication.
(a) The West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy is continued. The members of the board in office on July 1, 2010, shall, unless sooner removed, continue to serve until their respective terms expire and until their successors have been appointed and qualified.
(2) One citizen member, who is not licensed under the provisions of this article and who does not perform any services related to the practice of the professions regulated under the provisions of this article or have a financial interest in any health care profession, for a term of three years.
(d) After the initial appointment term, the term shall be for five years. All appointments to the board shall be made by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(e) Each licensed member of the board, at the time of his or her appointment, must have held a license in this state for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding the appointment.
(f) Each member of the board must be a resident of this state during the appointment term.
(g) A member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms. A member may continue to serve until a successor has been appointed and has qualified.
(h) A vacancy on the board shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired term of the member whose office is vacant and the appointment shall be made within sixty days of the vacancy.
(i) The Governor may remove any member from the board for neglect of duty, incompetency or official misconduct.
(j) A licensed member of the board immediately and automatically forfeits membership to the board if his or her license to practice is suspended or revoked.
(k) Any member of the board immediately and automatically forfeits membership to the board if he or she is convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction or becomes a nonresident of this state.
(l) The board shall elect annually one of its members as chairperson who serves at the will of the board.
(m) Each member of the board is entitled to compensation and expense reimbursement in accordance with article one of this chapter.
(n) A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum.
(o) The board shall hold at least two annual meetings. Other meetings may be held at the call of the chairperson or upon the written request of two members, at the time and place as designated in the call or request.
(p) Prior to commencing his or her duties as a member of the board, each member shall take and subscribe to the oath required by section five, article four of the Constitution of this state.
(a) The board has all the powers and duties set forth in this article, by rule, in article one of this chapter and elsewhere in law.
(20) Take all other actions necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this article.
(3) Confer with the Attorney General or his or her assistant in connection with legal matters and questions.
(18) Any other rules necessary to effectuate the provisions of this article.
(b) The board shall promulgate emergency rules pursuant to the provisions of section fifteen, article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to establish a maximum ratio of physical therapist assistants, or physical therapy aides involved in the practice of physical therapy, or any combinations that can be supervised by a physical therapist at any one time.
(c) All of the board's rules in effect on July 1, 2010, shall remain in effect until they are amended or repealed and references to provisions of former enactments of this article are interpreted to mean provisions of this article.
(a) All fees and other moneys, except administrative fines, received by the board shall be deposited in a separate special revenue fund in the State Treasury designated the "West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy Fund", which is continued. The fund is used by the board for the administration of this article. Except as may be provided in article one of this chapter, the board retains the amount in the special revenue account from year to year. No compensation or expense incurred under this article is a charge against the General Revenue Fund.
(b) Any amounts received as fines pursuant to this article shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury.
(9) Has fulfilled any other requirement specified by the board.
(b) A physical therapist shall use the letters "PT" immediately following his or her name to designate licensure under this article.
(c) A license to practice physical therapy issued by the board prior to July 1, 2010, is considered a license issued under this article: Provided, That a person holding a license issued prior to July 1, 2010, must renew the license pursuant to the provisions of this article.
Acts, 2010 Reg. Sess., Ch. 158.
(4) Engage in administration, consultation and research.
(10) Meet any other requirements established by the board.
(b) A physical therapist assistant shall use the letters "PTA" immediately following his or her name to designate licensure under this article.
(c) A license to act as a physical therapist assistant issued by the board prior to July 1, 2010, is considered a license issued under this article: Provided, That a person holding a license issued prior to July 1, 2010, must renew the license pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(7) Has fulfilled any other requirement specified by the board.
(6) Complete any additional requirements as required by the board.
(c) The board may issue a restricted license to an applicant who substantially meets the criteria established in subsection (b) of this section.
(a) Upon completion of the application and payment of the nonrefundable fees, the board may issue a temporary permit, for a period not to exceed ninety days, to an applicant to practice as a physical therapist in this state or act as a physical therapist assistant in this state, if the applicant has completed the educational requirements set out in this article, pending the examination and who works under a supervising physical therapist with the scope of the supervision to be defined by legislative rule.
(b) The temporary permit expires thirty days after the board gives written notice to the permittee of the results of the first examination held following the issuance of the temporary permit, if the permittee receives a passing score on the examination. The permit shall expire immediately if the permittee receives a failing score on the examination.
(c) A temporary permit may be revoked by a majority vote of the board.
(d) An applicant may be issued only one temporary permit, and upon the expiration of the temporary permit, may not practice as a physical therapist or act as physical therapist assistant until he or she is fully licensed under the provisions of this article.
(4) The applicant shall continue to participate in continuing education as required by the board for special volunteer physical therapists or physical therapist assistants license, as the case may be.
(b) Any person engaged in the active practice of physical therapy in this state whose license is in good standing may donate their expertise for the care and treatment of indigent and needy patients pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge to the patient. Services rendered pursuant to an arrangement may be performed in either the physical therapist’s office or the clinical setting.
(c) Any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who renders any physical therapy service to indigent and needy patients of a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge under a special volunteer license authorized under subsection (a) of this section or pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this section without payment or compensation or the expectation or promise of payment or compensation is immune from liability for any civil action arising out of any act or omission resulting from the rendering of the physical therapy service at the clinic unless the act or omission was the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. In order for the immunity under this subsection to apply, there must be a written agreement between the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant and the clinic stating that the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant will provide voluntary uncompensated physical therapy services under the control of the clinic to patients of the clinic before the rendering of any services by the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant at the clinic: Provided, That any clinic entering into such written agreement is required to maintain liability coverage of not less than $1 million per occurrence.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge is not relieved from imputed liability for the negligent acts of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant rendering voluntary physical therapy services at or for the clinic under a special volunteer license authorized under this section or who renders such care and treatment pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(e) For purposes of this section, "otherwise eligible for licensure" means the satisfaction of all the requirements for licensure for a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, as the case may be, except the fee requirements.
(f) Nothing in this section may be construed as requiring the board to issue a special volunteer license to any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant whose license is or has been subject to any disciplinary action or to any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who has surrendered a license or caused a license to lapse, expire and become invalid in lieu of having a complaint initiated or other action taken against his or her license, or who has elected to place a license in inactive status in lieu of having a complaint initiated or other action taken against his or her license or who has been denied a license.
(g) Any policy or contract of liability insurance providing coverage for liability sold, issued or delivered in this state to any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant covered under the provisions of this article shall be read so as to contain a provision or endorsement whereby the company issuing such policy waives or agrees not to assert as a defense on behalf of the policy holder or any beneficiary thereof the policy, to any claim covered by the terms of the policy within the policy limits, the immunity from liability of the insured by reason of the care and treatment of needy and indigent patients by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who holds a special volunteer license or who renders such care and treatment pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(a) All persons regulated by this article shall annually or biannually before January 1, renew his or her license by completing a form prescribed by the board and submitting any other information required by the board.
(b) The board shall charge a fee for each renewal of a license and shall charge a late fee for any renewal not paid by the due date.
(c) The board shall require as a condition of renewal that each licensee complete continuing education.
(d) The board may deny an application for renewal for any reason which would justify the denial of an original application for a license.
(a) If a license is not renewed when due, then the board shall automatically place the licensee on delinquent status.
(b) The fee for a person on delinquent status shall increase at a rate, determined by the board, for each month or fraction thereof that the renewal fee is not paid, up to a maximum of thirty-six months.
(c) Within thirty-six months of being placed on delinquent status, if a licensee wants to return to active practice, he or she must complete all the continuing education requirements and pay all the applicable fees as set by rule.
(d) After thirty-six months of being placed on delinquent status, a license is automatically placed on expired status and cannot be renewed. A person whose license has expired must reapply for a new license.
(a) A licensee who does not want to continue an active practice shall notify the board in writing and be granted inactive status.
(b) A person granted inactive status is not subject to the payment of any fee and may not practice physical therapy or act as a physical therapist assistant in this state.
(c) When the person wants to return to the practice of physical therapy or act as a physical therapist assistant, the person shall submit an application for renewal along with all applicable fees as set by rule.
(10) Nothing contained in this article prohibits a person from practicing within his or her scope of practice as authorized by law.
(a) The board shall prescribe the form for a license and permit, and may issue a duplicate license or permit upon payment of a fee.
(b) Any person regulated by the article shall conspicuously display his or her license or permit at his or her principal business location.
(a) The board may upon its own motion based on credible information, and shall upon the written complaint of any person, cause an investigation to be made to determine whether grounds exist for disciplinary action under this article or the legislative rules promulgated pursuant to this article.
(b) Upon initiation or receipt of the complaint, the board shall provide a copy of the complaint to the licensee or permittee.
(c) After reviewing any information obtained through an investigation, the board shall determine if probable cause exists that the licensee or permittee has violated subsection (g) of this section or rules promulgated pursuant to this article.
(d) Upon a finding that probable cause exists that the licensee or permittee has violated subsection (g) of this section or rules promulgated pursuant to this article, the board may enter into a consent decree or hold a hearing for the suspension or revocation of the license or permit or the imposition of sanctions against the licensee or permittee. Any hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of this article.
(e) Any member of the board or the executive secretary of the board may issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to obtain testimony and documents to aid in the investigation of allegations against any person regulated by the article.
(7) Engaging in an act while acting in a professional capacity which has endangered or is likely to endanger the health, welfare or safety of the public.
(7) Requiring the licensee or permittee to report to the board for periodic interviews for a specified period of time.
(i) In addition to any other sanction imposed, the board may require a licensee or permittee to pay the costs of the proceeding.
(a) Hearings are governed by the provisions of section eight, article one of this chapter.
(c) If the hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge, at the conclusion of a hearing he or she shall prepare a proposed written order containing findings of fact and conclusions of law. The proposed order may contain proposed disciplinary actions if the board so directs. The board may accept, reject or modify the decision of the administrative law judge.
(d) Any member or the executive secretary of the board has the authority to administer oaths, examine any person under oath and issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum.
(e) If, after a hearing, the board determines the licensee or permittee has violated provisions of this article or the board's rules, a formal written decision shall be prepared which contains findings of fact, conclusions of law and a specific description of the disciplinary actions imposed.
Any licensee or permittee adversely affected by a decision of the board entered after a hearing may obtain judicial review of the decision in accordance with section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, and may appeal any ruling resulting from judicial review in accordance with article six, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
(a) When, as a result of an investigation under this article or otherwise, the board has reason to believe that a licensee or permittee has committed a criminal offense under this article, the board may bring its information to the attention of an appropriate law-enforcement official.
(b) A person violating section one of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined.

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