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HOUSE BILL No. 1202

Citations Affected: IC 25-27-1-2.

Synopsis: Direct access to physical therapy services. Removes a provision concerning the licensure of physical therapists providing that a physical therapist may practice physical therapy only upon the order or referral of a physician, podiatrist, psychologist, chiropractor, or dentist.

Effective: July 1, 2011.

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Ubelhor, Welch, Davisson, Messmer

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    January 10, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Public Health.

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PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2010 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

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    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning professions and occupations.

SOURCE: IC 25-27-1-2; (11)IN1202.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 25-27-1-2 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2011]: Sec. 2. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for a person to practice physical therapy or to profess to be a physical therapist, physiotherapist, or physical therapy technician or to use the initials "P.T.", "P.T.T.", or "R.P.T.", or any other letters, words, abbreviations, or insignia indicating that the person is a physical therapist, or to practice or to assume the duties incident to physical therapy without first obtaining from the board a license authorizing the person to practice physical therapy in this state.
    (b) It is unlawful for a person to practice physical therapy other than upon the order or referral of a physician, podiatrist, psychologist, chiropractor, or dentist holding an unlimited license to practice medicine, podiatric medicine, psychology, chiropractic, or dentistry, respectively. It is unlawful for a physical therapist to use the services of a physical therapist's assistant except as provided under this chapter. For the purposes of this subsection, the function of:

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        (1) teaching;
        (2) doing research;
        (3) providing advisory services; or
        (4) conducting seminars on physical therapy;
is not considered to be a practice of physical therapy.
    (c) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for a person to act as a physical therapist's assistant or to use initials, letters, words, abbreviations, or insignia indicating that the person is a physical therapist's assistant without first obtaining from the board a certificate authorizing the person to act as a physical therapist's assistant. It is unlawful for the person to act as a physical therapist's assistant other than under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist who is in responsible charge of a patient or under the direct supervision of a physician. However, nothing in this chapter prohibits a person licensed or registered in this state under another law from engaging in the practice for which the person is licensed or registered. These exempted persons include persons engaged in the practice of osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatric medicine.
    (d) This chapter does not authorize a person who is licensed as a physical therapist or certified as a physical therapist's assistant to:
        (1) evaluate any physical disability or mental disorder except upon the order or referral of a physician, podiatrist, psychologist, chiropractor, or dentist;
        (2) practice medicine, surgery (as described in IC 25-22.5-1-1.1(a)(1)(C)), dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, psychology, chiropractic, or podiatric medicine; or
        (3) prescribe a drug or other remedial substance used in medicine.