Bill Text: IL SB2153 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Physical Therapy Act. In provisions concerning telehealth services, provides that physical therapists may use telehealth to perform an initial physical therapy evaluation if certain criteria are met. Removes language providing that initial physical therapy evaluations without a referral or established diagnosis may only be performed by a licensed physical therapist and cannot be performed via telehealth unless necessary to address a documented hardship. Provides that a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may require a patient to undergo an in-person visit instead of providing telehealth services. Removes language providing that the use of telehealth as a primary means of delivering physical therapy must be an exception and documentation must support the clinical justification. Provides that a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant may engage in the practice of telehealth services in this State to the extent of the physical therapist's or the physical therapist assistant's scope of practice as established in the Act and consistent with the standards of care for in-person services. Provides that the provisions concerning telehealth services shall not be construed to authorize the delivery of physical therapy services in a setting or in a manner not otherwise authorized by law. Provides that a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant working under the general supervision of a physical therapist treating a patient located in the State through telehealth services must be licensed or authorized to practice physical therapy in the State. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may, in consultation with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Early Childhood, exempt physical therapists and physical therapist assistants providing physical therapy services as part of the Illinois Early Intervention Program, an individualized education program, or a federal Section 504 plan through a school system from the amendatory provisions by rule to address service delays. Provides that nothing in the amendatory provisions shall be construed to allow noncompliance with any requirements under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Early Intervention Services System Act, the Department of Early Childhood Act, or any other State or federal law or rules. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3)

Status: (Passed) 2025-08-15 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0411 [SB2153 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SB2153-Enrolled.html

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AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Physical Therapy Act is amended by
changing Section 1.3 as follows:
(225 ILCS 90/1.3)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)
Sec. 1.3. Telehealth services.
(a) Physical therapy through telehealth services may be
used to address access issues to care, enhance care delivery,
or increase the physical therapist's ability to assess and
direct the patient's performance in the patient's own
environment.
(b) Only a A physical therapist or physical therapist
assistant working under the general supervision of a physical
therapist may provide physical therapy through telehealth
services pursuant to the terms and use defined in the
Telehealth Act and the Illinois Insurance Code and subject to
the following conditions:
(1) Physical therapists may use telehealth to perform
an initial physical therapy evaluation if one of the
following criteria is met:
(i) the patient has a referral or diagnosis from a

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health care professional;
(ii) the patient has an established relationship
with the physical therapist; or
(iii) the physical therapist has the capacity to
perform or facilitate a referral for an in-person,
hands-on examination or re-examination by a physical
therapist at any time throughout the course of the
patient's care, as needed. Initial physical therapy
evaluations without a referral or established
diagnosis may only be performed by a licensed physical
therapist and cannot be performed via telehealth
unless necessary to address a documented hardship,
including, but not limited to, geographical, physical,
or weather-related conditions.
(2) A physical therapist or a physical therapist
assistant may require the patient to undergo an in-person
visit instead of providing telehealth services. The use of
telehealth as a primary means of delivering physical
therapy must be an exception and documentation must
support the clinical justification.
(3) A patient receiving physical therapy via
telehealth must be able to request and receive in-person
care at any point during their treatment.
(4) A physical therapist providing telehealth must
have the capacity to provide or be able to facilitate a
referral to in-person care within the State of Illinois.

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(5) A physical therapist or a physical therapist
assistant may engage in the practice of telehealth
services in this State to the extent of the physical
therapist's or the physical therapist assistant's scope of
practice as established in this Act and consistent with
the standards of care for in-person services. This Section
shall not be construed to authorize the delivery of
physical therapy services in a setting or in a manner not
otherwise authorized by law.
(6) A physical therapist or a physical therapist
assistant working under the general supervision of a
physical therapist treating a patient located in this
State through telehealth services must be licensed or
authorized to practice physical therapy in this State.
(c) The Department may, in consultation with the
Department of Human Services and the Department of Early
Childhood, exempt physical therapists and physical therapist
assistants providing physical therapy services as part of the
Illinois Early Intervention Program, an individualized
education program, or a federal Section 504 plan through a
school system from this Section by rule to address service
delays.
(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow
noncompliance with any requirements under the federal
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Early
Intervention Services System Act, the Department of Early

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Childhood Act, or any other State or federal law or rules.
(Source: P.A. 103-849, eff. 1-1-25.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.