SB173 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Scope of Practice of Physical Therapists

Summary

SB173 would let licensed physical therapists in Alabama perform initial screenings and certain non-prescription services without a referral, expanding how they can start PT care while keeping some referral requirements.

What This Bill Does

The bill expands the scope of practice for physical therapists and compact privilege holders to include initial screenings to determine the need for physical therapy. It removes the general requirement that physical therapy must be performed only after a referral from certain licensed professionals. In specific non-prescription contexts, therapists may initiate services without a referral, including care for children with developmental disabilities, home health patients, nursing home patients, wellness/fitness-focused activities, and care for previously diagnosed conditions if a recent diagnosis is documented. If a referral is received, a plan of care must be sent to the referring provider, and the diagnosis must be within the prior 90 days with the plan of care provided within the first 15 days of intervention.

Who It Affects

• Licensed physical therapists and compact privilege holders would gain authority to perform initial screenings and certain non-prescription PT services without a referral, under defined conditions.
• Patients in settings such as children with developmental disabilities, home health patients, nursing home residents, and individuals seeking wellness-related PT services would have expanded access to screenings and some PT services without a referral, with coordination requirements when referrals occur.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes licensed physical therapists and compact privilege holders to conduct initial evaluations or screenings to determine the need for physical therapy, and to perform the PT services listed in the bill.
• Eliminates the broad requirement that PT must be practiced only upon referral from a physician, dentist, chiropractor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.
• Allows non-prescription or non-referral PT services in these cases: (1) child with a 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/education/activities for injury prevention, stress reduction, or fitness; (5) previously diagnosed condition with a plan of care, where the diagnosis was made within the previous 90 days.
• When a referral is received, a plan of care must be sent to the referring provider, and the PT must provide a plan of care to the healthcare provider who rendered the diagnosis within the first 15 days of intervention.
• A PT may initiate services and establish a plan of care, and must refer patients to other providers as needed.
• If the diagnosis is provided, the initial screening and plan of care are coordinated with the referring or supervising physician, dentist, chiropractor, PA, or NP as applicable, under existing collaboration or supervisory arrangements.
• Effective date: October 1, 2024.

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

Subjects

Occupational Licensing Boards