2017 -- S 0742

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LC002473

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Nesselbush, Lombardi, P Fogarty, Quezada, and Crowley

     Date Introduced: April 12, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 5-40-1, 5-40-9 and 5-40-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-40

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entitled "Physical Therapists" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     5-40-1. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Board" means the board of physical therapy established by § 5-40-2.

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     (2) "Department" means the department of health.

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     (3) "Examination" means an examination approved by the department in consultation

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with the board.

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     (4) "License" means a license issued by the department to practice physical therapy.

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     (5) "Physical therapist" means an individual who is licensed by the department to practice

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physical therapy.

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     (6) "Physical therapist assistant" means an individual who is licensed by the department

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to assist in the practice of physical therapy under the supervision of a physical therapist.

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     (7) (i) "Practice physical therapy" means the examination, treatment, and instruction of

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human beings to detect, assess, prevent, correct, alleviate and limit physical disability, physical

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dysfunction, and pain from injury, disease and any other bodily conditions, and includes the

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administration, interpretation, and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions and

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structures; the planning, administration, evaluation, and modification of treatment and instruction,

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including the use of physical measures, activities, and devices, for preventive and therapeutic

 

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purposes; and the provision of consultative, educational, and other advisory services for the

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purpose of reducing the incidence and severity of physical disability, physical dysfunction and

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pain.

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     (ii) The practice of physical therapy does not include the practice of medicine as defined

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in chapter 37 of this title.

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     "Physical therapy" means the care and services provided by or under the direction and

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supervision of a physical therapist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter.

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     (8) "Supervision" means that a licensed physical therapist is at all times responsible for

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supportive personnel and students.

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     (9) "Practice of physical therapy" means:

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     (i)(A) Examination, evaluation, treatment, and instruction of patients/clients to detect,

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assess, prevent, correct, alleviate and limit physical disability, physical dysfunction, and pain

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from injury, disease and any other bodily conditions;

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     (B) Administration, interpretation, and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily

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functions and structures;

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     (C) The planning, administration, evaluation, and modification of treatment and

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instruction, including the use of physical measures, activities, and devices, for preventive and

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therapeutic purposes; and

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     (D) The provision of consultative, educational, and other advisory services for the

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purpose of reducing the incidence and severity of physical disability, physical dysfunction and

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pain. "Practice of physical therapy" includes ordering diagnostic imaging and studies that are

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performed and interpreted by other licensed health care professionals;

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     (ii) The practice of physical therapy does not include the practice of medicine as defined

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in chapter 37 of this title.

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     5-40-9. Right of use of the title of physical therapist.

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     (a) To safeguard the welfare and health of the people of the state, it is unlawful for any

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person to represent himself or herself as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in this

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state or to use any title, abbreviation, sign, or device to indicate that the person is a physical

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therapist or physical therapist assistant unless this person has been licensed pursuant to the

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provisions of this chapter §5-40-7.

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     (b) Any person who holds a license to practice physical therapy in this state has the right

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to use the title "physical therapist" and abbreviation "P.T." No other person may assume the title

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or use the abbreviation P.T. or other words, or letters, signs, figures, or devices to indicate that the

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person using the title is a physical therapist. A physical therapist shall use the letters "PT" or the

 

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term "physical therapist" immediately following their name to designate licensure under this

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chapter. A person or business entity, its employees, agents, or representatives shall not use in

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connection with that person's name or the name or activity of the business, the words "physical

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therapy," "physical therapist," "registered physical therapist," the letters "PT," "DPT," "LPT,"

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"RPT," "SPT" or any other words, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying directly or

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indirectly that physical therapy is provided or supplied, unless such services are provided by or

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under the direction of a physical therapist licensed pursuant to this chapter. A person or business

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entity shall not advertise or otherwise promote another person as being a "physical therapist"

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unless the individual so advertised or promoted is licensed as a physical therapist pursuant to this

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chapter. A person or business entity that offers, provides, or bills any other person for services

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shall not characterize those services as "physical therapy" unless the individual performing those

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services is a person under the direction or supervision of a physical therapist pursuant to this

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chapter.

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     (c) The abbreviation "G.P.T." shall be used to identify a "graduate physical therapist"

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authorized to perform as a graduate physical therapist pursuant to this chapter.

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     (d) Any person who holds a license as a physical therapist assistant in this state has the

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right to use the title "physical therapist assistant". No other person may assume the title or other

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words, or letters, signs, figures, or devices to indicate that the person using the title is a physical

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therapist assistant. A physical therapist assistant shall use the letters "PTA" immediately

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following their name to designate licensure under this chapter.

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     (e) A person shall not use the title "physical therapist assistant" or "graduate physical

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therapist assistant" and the letters "PTA" or "GPTA," or any other words, abbreviations, or

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insignia in connection with that person's name to indicate or imply, directly or indirectly, that the

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person is a physical therapist assistant unless that person is licensed as a physical therapist

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assistant pursuant to this chapter.

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     5-40-13. Grounds for discipline of licensees.

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     (a) The board has power to deny, revoke, or suspend any license issued by the department

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or applied for in accordance with this chapter, or to discipline a person licensed under this chapter

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upon proof that said person has engaged in unprofessional conduct including, but not limited to:

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     (1) Fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure a license or in the practice of

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physical therapy;

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     (2) Is habitually intemperate or is addicted to the use of habit forming drugs;

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     (3) Is mentally and/or professionally incompetent;

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     (4) Has repeatedly violated any of the provisions of this chapter;

 

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     (5) Providing services to a person who is making a claim as a result of a personal injury,

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who charges or collects from the person any amount in excess of the reimbursement to the

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physical therapist by the insurer as a condition of providing or continuing to provide services or

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treatment;

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     (6) Conviction, including a plea of nolo contendere, of one or more of the offenses listed

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in § 23-17-37;

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     (7) Abandonment of a patient;

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     (8) Promotion by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant of the sale of drugs,

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devices, appliances, or goods or services provided for a patient in a manner as to exploit the

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patient for the financial gain of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant;

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     (9) Making or filing false reports or records in the practice of physical therapy;

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     (10) Repeated failure to file or record, or impede or obstruct a filing or recording, or

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inducing another person to fail to file or record physical therapy reports;

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     (11) Failure to furnish patient records upon proper request;

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     (12) Practice as a physical therapist assistant without supervision by a physical therapist

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licensed in the state of Rhode Island;

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     (13) Incompetent or negligent misconduct in the practice of physical therapy;

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     (14) Revocation, suspension, surrender, or limitation of privilege based on quality of care

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provided or disciplinary action against a license to practice as a physical therapist or physical

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therapist assistant in another state, jurisdiction, or country;

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     (15) Failure to furnish the board, administrator, investigator, or representatives

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information legally requested by the board;

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     (16) Violation of this chapter or any of the rules and regulations or departure from or

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failure to conform to the current standards of acceptable and prevailing practice and code of

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ethics of physical therapy. ;

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     (17) Practicing or offering to practice beyond the scope of the practice of physical

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therapy.

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     (b) Whenever a patient seeks or receives treatment from a physical therapist without

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referral from a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, chiropractic, physician

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assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner, the physical therapist shall:

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     (1) Disclose to the patient, in writing, the scope and limitations of the practice of physical

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therapy and obtain their consent in writing; and

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     (2) Refer the patient to a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or

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chiropractic within ninety (90) days after the date treatment commenced; provided, that a physical

 

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therapist is not required to make this a referral after treatment is concluded;

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     (3) No physical therapist who has less than one year clinical experience as a physical

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therapist shall commence treatment on a patient without a referral from a doctor of medicine,

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osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, chiropractic, physician assistant, or certified registered nurse

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practitioner.

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     (c) For purposes of this chapter and notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter

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or any rules or regulations adopted by the board, any person licensed or registered under this

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chapter who is a bona fide employee or independent contractor of a physician or a physician

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group entitled to wages and compensation pursuant to such employment or contract, or is a co-

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owner of a physical therapy practice with a physician group, shall not be deemed to be engaged in

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conduct unbecoming a person licensed or registered under this chapter, or to be engaged in

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conduct detrimental to the best interest of the public, or to be in violation of any other provision

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of this chapter by virtue of any of the above relationships, and shall not be subject to licensure

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denial, suspension, revocation, or any other disciplinary action or penalty under this chapter:

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     (1) Solely by virtue of such employment or contract; or

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     (2) Solely by virtue of the provision of physical therapy services pursuant to a referral

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from the employing or contracting physician or physician group.

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     Any such interest referenced in this paragraph shall be in accordance with federal and

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state law, specifically, including, but not limited to, chapter 5-48.1.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

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     This act would modernize the definition of physical therapy, the right to use the title of

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physical therapist and include the practice beyond the scope of physical therapy as a grounds for

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discipline.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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