HB163 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ed Henry

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Physical therapists, referral by licensed health care providers, Sec. 34-24-210.1 added; Secs. 34-24-191, 34-24-217 am'd.

Summary

HB163 would let physical therapists evaluate and treat some patients without a referral in specific cases, while clarifying referral rules and protecting certain professional relationships.

What This Bill Does

It adds a new section that allows licensed physical therapists to perform an initial evaluation or screening without a prescription or referral in limited situations, and to provide certain PT services without referral. It defines five categories of no-referral PT services, including care for children with developmental disabilities, home health patients, nursing home residents, wellness/fitness activities, and care for previously diagnosed conditions with proper notice and planning. It maintains that most PT still requires referral from listed professionals, and it updates disciplinary rules to protect legitimate employment or contractual relationships between PTs and physicians from being treated as misconduct solely because of those relationships.

Who It Affects

• Patients in home health care or nursing homes, and children with developmental disabilities, who may receive physical therapy without a prior referral under a plan of care or specified conditions.
• Physical therapists, who may perform initial evaluations without a referral in certain cases and must base most treatment on a referral.
• Physicians, dentists, chiropractors, licensed physician assistants under supervision, and nurse practitioners in collaborative practice, whose referrals remain required for most PT services but may interact with the new no-referral provisions.
• Home health agencies and nursing homes, which would implement PT plans of care under the new rules.

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 34-24-210.1 allowing a licensed physical therapist to perform an initial evaluation or screening without prescription or referral in specified circumstances and to provide PT services under five categories without a referral.
• No-referral categories include (1) children with diagnosed developmental disabilities under a plan of care, (2) home health patients under a plan of care, (3) nursing home patients under a plan of care, (4) wellness/fitness-related conditioning and injury prevention, and (5) previously diagnosed conditions where PT is appropriate, with diagnosis within the prior 90 days and a plan of care delivered to the diagnosing provider within 15 days.
• Maintains that otherwise, PT requires referral from a physician, dentist, licensed chiropractor, licensed physician assistant under supervision, or licensed nurse practitioner with a collaborative practice agreement.
• Section 34-24-217 changes clarify board disciplinary rules and provide protections so that bona fide employment or compensation arrangements between PTs and physicians or physician groups do not count as misconduct merely because of those relationships or referrals.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Physical Therapy, Board of