H.B. 367

             1     

PHYSICAL THERAPY SCOPE OF PRACTICE AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill adds dry needling to a physical therapist's scope of practice.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    amends the definition of "therapeutic intervention" in the Physical Therapy Practice
             13      Act to include dry needling; and
             14          .    makes technical and conforming amendments.
             15      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             16          None
             17      Other Special Clauses:
             18          None
             19      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             20      AMENDS:
             21           58-24b-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 117
             22     
             23      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             24          Section 1. Section 58-24b-102 is amended to read:
             25           58-24b-102. Definitions.
             26          As used in this chapter:
             27          (1) "Animal physical therapy" means practicing physical therapy or physiotherapy on


             28      an animal.
             29          (2) "Board" means the Utah Physical Therapy Licensing Board, created in Section
             30      58-24b-201 .
             31          (3) "Consultation by telecommunication" means the provision of expert or professional
             32      advice by a physical therapist who is licensed outside of Utah to a licensed physical therapist or
             33      a health care provider by telecommunication or electronic communication.
             34          (4) "General supervision" means supervision and oversight of a person by a licensed
             35      physical therapist when the licensed physical therapist is immediately available in person, by
             36      telephone, or by electronic communication to assist the person.
             37          (5) "Licensed physical therapist" means a person licensed under this chapter to engage
             38      in the practice of physical therapy.
             39          (6) "Licensed physical therapist assistant" means a person licensed under this chapter
             40      to engage in the practice of physical therapy, subject to the provisions of Subsection
             41      58-24b-401 (2)(a).
             42          (7) "Licensing examination" means a nationally recognized physical therapy
             43      examination that is approved by the division, in consultation with the board.
             44          (8) "On-site supervision" means supervision and oversight of a person by a licensed
             45      physical therapist or a licensed physical therapist assistant when the licensed physical therapist
             46      or licensed physical therapist assistant is:
             47          (a) continuously present at the facility where the person is providing services;
             48          (b) immediately available to assist the person; and
             49          (c) regularly involved in the services being provided by the person.
             50          (9) "Physical impairment" means:
             51          (a) a mechanical impairment;
             52          (b) a physiological impairment;
             53          (c) a developmental impairment;
             54          (d) a functional limitation;
             55          (e) a disability;
             56          (f) a mobility impairment; or
             57          (g) a bodily malfunction.
             58          [(11)] (10) (a) "Physical therapy" or "physiotherapy" means:


             59          (i) examining, evaluating, and testing an individual who has a physical impairment or
             60      injury;
             61          (ii) identifying or labeling a physical impairment or injury;
             62          (iii) formulating a therapeutic intervention plan for the treatment of a physical
             63      impairment, injury, or pain;
             64          (iv) assessing the ongoing effects of therapeutic intervention for the treatment of a
             65      physical impairment or injury;
             66          (v) treating or alleviating a physical impairment by designing, modifying, or
             67      implementing a therapeutic intervention;
             68          (vi) reducing the risk of an injury or physical impairment;
             69          (vii) providing instruction on the use of physical measures, activities, or devices for
             70      preventative and therapeutic purposes;
             71          (viii) promoting and maintaining health and fitness;
             72          (ix) the administration of a prescription drug pursuant to Section 58-24b-403 ;
             73          (x) subject to Subsection 58-28-307 (12)(b), engaging in the functions described in
             74      Subsections [(11)] (10)(a)(i) through (ix) in relation to an animal, in accordance with the
             75      requirements of Section 58-24b-405 ; and
             76          (xi) engaging in administration, consultation, education, and research relating to the
             77      practices described in this Subsection [(11)] (10)(a).
             78          (b) "Physical therapy" or "physiotherapy" does not include:
             79          (i) diagnosing disease;
             80          (ii) performing surgery;
             81          (iii) performing acupuncture;
             82          (iv) taking x-rays; or
             83          (v) prescribing or dispensing a drug, as defined in Section 58-37-2 .
             84          [(10)] (11) "Physical therapy aide" means a person who:
             85          (a) is trained, on-the-job, by a licensed physical therapist; and
             86          (b) provides routine assistance to a licensed physical therapist or licensed physical
             87      therapist assistant, while the licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant
             88      practices physical therapy, within the scope of the licensed physical therapist's or licensed
             89      physical therapist assistant's license.


             90          (12) "Recognized accreditation agency" means an accreditation agency that:
             91          (a) grants accreditation, nationally, in the United States of America; and
             92          (b) is approved by the division, in consultation with the board.
             93          (13) (a) "Testing" means a standard method or technique used to gather data regarding
             94      a patient that is generally and nationally accepted by physical therapists for the practice of
             95      physical therapy.
             96          (b) "Testing" includes measurement or evaluation of:
             97          (i) muscle strength, force, endurance, or tone;
             98          (ii) cardiovascular fitness;
             99          (iii) physical work capacity;
             100          (iv) joint motion, mobility, or stability;
             101          (v) reflexes or autonomic reactions;
             102          (vi) movement skill or accuracy;
             103          (vii) sensation;
             104          (viii) perception;
             105          (ix) peripheral nerve integrity;
             106          (x) locomotor skills, stability, and endurance;
             107          (xi) the fit, function, and comfort of prosthetic, orthotic, or other assistive devices;
             108          (xii) posture;
             109          (xiii) body mechanics;
             110          (xiv) limb length, circumference, and volume;
             111          (xv) thoracic excursion and breathing patterns;
             112          (xvi) activities of daily living related to physical movement and mobility;
             113          (xvii) functioning in the physical environment at home or work, as it relates to physical
             114      movement and mobility; and
             115          (xviii) neural muscular responses.
             116          (14) "Therapeutic intervention" includes:
             117          (a) therapeutic exercise, with or without the use of a device;
             118          (b) functional training in self-care, as it relates to physical movement and mobility;
             119          (c) community or work integration, as it relates to physical movement and mobility;
             120          (d) manual therapy, including, as defined by the division:


             121          (i) soft tissue mobilization;
             122          (ii) therapeutic massage; [or]
             123          (iii) joint mobilization[, as defined by the division, by rule]; or
             124          (iv) dry needling;
             125          (e) prescribing, applying, or fabricating an assistive, adaptive, orthotic, prosthetic,
             126      protective, or supportive device;
             127          (f) airway clearance techniques, including postural drainage;
             128          (g) integumentary protection and repair techniques;
             129          (h) wound debridement, cleansing, and dressing;
             130          (i) the application of a physical agent, including:
             131          (i) light;
             132          (ii) heat;
             133          (iii) cold;
             134          (iv) water;
             135          (v) air;
             136          (vi) sound;
             137          (vii) compression;
             138          (viii) electricity; and
             139          (ix) electromagnetic radiation;
             140          (j) mechanical or electrotherapeutic modalities;
             141          (k) positioning;
             142          (l) instructing or training a patient in locomotion or other functional activities, with or
             143      without an assistive device;
             144          (m) manual or mechanical traction; and
             145          (n) correction of posture, body mechanics, or gait.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-12-14 3:09 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]