SB13 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tim MelsonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to physical therapy

Summary

The bill would let licensed physical therapists provide certain services without a prescription or referral under specific conditions, expanding when PT can be given directly.

What This Bill Does

It amends Alabama law to allow a licensed physical therapist to perform an initial evaluation and provide physical therapy and related services without a prescription in defined cases. Outside of these cases, PT services would still require a referral from a physician, dentist, chiropractor, PA under a physician’s supervising agreement, or an NP in a collaborative practice with a physician. The bill also lists seven specific situations where no referral is needed, and says health plans are not required to cover these services. It becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Licensed physical therapists who would be able to perform initial evaluations and certain PT services without a referral in the specified cases.
• Patients and care recipients in the listed scenarios (children with developmental disability, home health patients, nursing home residents, people seeking wellness/fitness-related services, those with a previously diagnosed condition, those with a chronic condition under active management, and those needing restoration of strength/ROM if no new pain).

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 34-24-210.1 to allow a licensed physical therapist to perform an initial evaluation or screening and to provide PT and related services without prescription or referral in specified situations.
• In all other cases, PT services must be based on a referral from a physician, surgeon, dentist, chiropractor, PA under a physician’s supervising agreement, or an NP in a collaborative practice with a physician.
• The no-referral services are limited to seven categories: (1) child with diagnosed developmental disability under a plan of care; (2) home health patient under a plan of care; (3) nursing home patient under a plan of care; (4) wellness-related conditioning or education for injury prevention, stress reduction, or fitness; (5) previously diagnosed condition with PT appropriate after informing the diagnosing health care provider, with a plan of care provided within the first 15 days and the diagnosis within the prior 90–120 days; (6) chronic condition under active management by a licensed medical professional; (7) restoring strength/endurance/coordination/ROM if there is no new onset pain, illness, or injury.
• Section 2 clarifies that nothing in the act requires health benefit plans to cover or reimburse these services.
• Section 3 states the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Physical therapy, practice further provided without recent referral under certain conditions by license physical therapist