Bill Text: NY A10489 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Relates to physical therapist assistants; establishes that physical therapist assistants shall be licensed.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-04-30 - referred to higher education [A10489 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A10489-Introduced.html


                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          10489
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                     April 30, 2018
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ZEBROWSKI  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Higher Education
        AN ACT to amend the education law, in  relation  to  physical  therapist
          assistants
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. Section 6738 of the education law, as added by chapter  618
     2  of  the  laws of 1980, subdivision a as designated by chapter 184 of the
     3  laws of 1982, subdivision b as amended by chapter 532  of  the  laws  of
     4  1999,  subdivision  c as amended by chapter 120 of the laws of 1998, and
     5  subdivision d as added by chapter 20 of the laws of 1998, is amended  to
     6  read as follows:
     7    § 6738. Definition  of  physical  therapist  assistant. a. A "physical
     8  therapist assistant" means a person [certified] licensed  in  accordance
     9  with this article who works under the supervision of a licensed physical
    10  therapist  performing such patient related activities as are assigned by
    11  the supervising physical therapist. Duties of physical therapist assist-
    12  ants shall not include evaluation, testing, interpretation, planning  or
    13  modification  of  patient  programs. Supervision of a physical therapist
    14  assistant by a licensed physical therapist shall be on-site supervision,
    15  but not necessarily direct personal supervision. The number of  licensed
    16  physical therapist assistants supervised by one licensed physical thera-
    17  pist  shall  not  exceed  the  ratio of four licensed physical therapist
    18  assistants to one licensed physical therapist as shall be determined  by
    19  the  commissioner's  regulations  insuring that there be adequate super-
    20  vision in the best interest of public health and safety. Nothing in this
    21  section shall prohibit a  hospital  from  employing  physical  therapist
    22  assistants,  provided they work under the supervision of physical thera-
    23  pists designated by the hospital and not beyond the scope of practice of
    24  a physical therapist assistant. The numerical limitation of this section
    25  shall not apply to work performed in a hospital, provided that there  be
    26  adequate supervision in the best interest of public health and safety.
    27    b.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions of subdivision a of this section,
    28  supervision of a licensed physical therapist  assistant  by  a  licensed
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD15393-01-8

        A. 10489                            2
     1  physical  therapist,  (i)  in  a  residential  health  care facility, as
     2  defined in article twenty-eight of the public  health  law,  (ii)  in  a
     3  diagnostic  and  treatment center licensed under article twenty-eight of
     4  the  public health law that provides, as its principal mission, services
     5  to individuals with developmental disabilities, (iii) in a facility,  as
     6  defined in section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law, or (iv) under a moni-
     7  tored  program  of  the  office  of mental retardation and developmental
     8  disabilities as defined in subdivision  (a)  of  section  13.15  of  the
     9  mental hygiene law, shall be continuous but not necessarily on site when
    10  the  supervising  physical therapist has determined, through evaluation,
    11  the setting of goals and the establishment of a treatment plan, that the
    12  program is one of maintenance as defined pursuant to title XVIII of  the
    13  federal  social  security  act. The provisions of this subdivision shall
    14  not apply to the provision of physical therapy services when the  condi-
    15  tion  requires  multiple  adjustments of sequences and procedures due to
    16  rapidly changing physiological status and/or response to  treatment,  or
    17  to children under five years of age.
    18    c.  For  the purposes of the provision of physical therapist assistant
    19  services in a home care services setting, as such services  are  defined
    20  in  article  thirty-six  of  the public health law, except that the home
    21  care services setting shall not include early intervention  services  as
    22  defined  in title two-A of article twenty-five of the public health law,
    23  whether such services are provided by a home  care  services  agency  or
    24  under  the supervision of a physical therapist licensed pursuant to this
    25  article, continuous supervision of a licensed physical therapist assist-
    26  ant, who has had direct clinical experience for a  period  of  not  less
    27  than  two years, by a licensed physical therapist shall not be construed
    28  as requiring the physical presence of such licensed  physical  therapist
    29  at the time and place where such services are performed. For purposes of
    30  this  subdivision  "continuous  supervision" shall be deemed to include:
    31  (i) the licensed physical therapist's setting of goals,  establishing  a
    32  plan  of  care  and  determining  whether  the patient is appropriate to
    33  receive the services of a licensed physical therapist assistant  subject
    34  to  the  licensed physical therapist's evaluation; (ii) an initial joint
    35  visit with the patient by the supervising  licensed  physical  therapist
    36  and  the licensed physical therapist assistant; (iii) periodic treatment
    37  and evaluation of the patient by the supervising licensed physical ther-
    38  apist, as indicated in the plan of care and as determined in  accordance
    39  with  patient  need,  but in no instance shall the interval between such
    40  treatment exceed every six patient  visits  or  thirty  days,  whichever
    41  occurs  first;  and  (iv) a final evaluation by the supervising licensed
    42  physical therapist to determine if the plan of care shall be terminated.
    43  For purposes of this subdivision, the number of licensed physical thera-
    44  pist assistant's supervised in the  home  care  services  setting  by  a
    45  licensed  physical  therapist shall not exceed the ratio of two physical
    46  therapist assistants to one licensed physical therapist.
    47    d. (1) For purposes of the provision of  licensed  physical  therapist
    48  assistant  services  in  public  primary or private primary or secondary
    49  schools and for preschool children, as that term is defined in paragraph
    50  i of subdivision one of section forty-four hundred ten of this  chapter,
    51  and  receiving services thereunder, continuous supervision of a licensed
    52  physical therapist assistant, who has direct clinical experience provid-
    53  ing age appropriate physical therapy services for a period of  not  less
    54  than  two years, by a licensed physical therapist shall not be construed
    55  as requiring the physical presence of such licensed  physical  therapist

        A. 10489                            3
     1  at the time and place where such services are performed. For purposes of
     2  this subdivision "continuous supervision" shall be deemed to include:
     3    (i) the licensed physical therapist's setting of the goals, establish-
     4  ing  a plan of care, determining on an initial and ongoing basis whether
     5  the patient is appropriate to receive the services of a  licensed  phys-
     6  ical therapist assistant, determining the frequency of joint visits with
     7  the  patient by both the supervising licensed physical therapist and the
     8  licensed physical therapist assistant, except that in no instance  shall
     9  the  interval,  between joint visits, be more than every ninety calendar
    10  days, subject to the licensed physical therapist's evaluation;
    11    (ii) an initial joint  visit  with  the  patient  by  the  supervising
    12  licensed physical therapist and licensed physical therapist assistant;
    13    (iii)  periodic  treatment and evaluation of the patient by the super-
    14  vising licensed physical therapist as indicated in the plan of care  and
    15  as  determined  in  accordance  with  patient  need,  except  that in no
    16  instance shall the interval between such treatment exceed every  twelfth
    17  visit or thirty days which ever occurs first; and
    18    (iv)  notification  of  the supervising licensed physical therapist by
    19  the licensed physical therapist assistant whenever there is a change  in
    20  status, condition or performance of the patient.
    21    (2)  This  subdivision  shall  not  apply to the provision of physical
    22  therapy services when a child's condition requires multiple  adjustments
    23  of  sequences  and procedures due to rapidly changing physiologic status
    24  and/or response to treatment.
    25    § 2. Section 6739 of the education law, as added by chapter 618 of the
    26  laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows:
    27    § 6739. Duties of licensed physical therapist assistants and  the  use
    28  of  title  "physical  therapist  assistant".  Only  a person [certified]
    29  licensed or otherwise authorized under this article shall participate in
    30  the practice of  physical  therapy  as  a  licensed  physical  therapist
    31  assistant  and  only  a  person  [certified] licensed under this section
    32  shall use the title "physical therapist assistant".
    33    § 3. Section 6740 of the education law, as added by chapter 618 of the
    34  laws of 1980, subdivision c-1 as added by chapter 404  of  the  laws  of
    35  2002,  subdivision  f  as amended by chapter 43 of the laws of 1987, and
    36  subdivision g as amended by chapter 62 of the laws of 1989,  is  amended
    37  to read as follows:
    38    § 6740. Requirements  for [certification] license as a physical thera-
    39  pist assistant. a. Application: file an application with the department;
    40    b. Education: have received an education  including  completion  of  a
    41  two-year  college  program  in a physical therapist assistant program or
    42  equivalent in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
    43    c. Experience: have experience satisfactory to  the  state  board  for
    44  physical therapy in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
    45    c-1. Examination: pass an examination satisfactory to the board and in
    46  accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
    47    d. Age: be at least eighteen years of age;
    48    e.  Character: be of good moral character as determined by the depart-
    49  ment;
    50    f. Registration: all [certified] licensed physical  therapist  assist-
    51  ants shall register triennially with the education department in accord-
    52  ance with the regulations of the commissioner;
    53    g.  Fees: pay a fee for an initial [certificate] license of forty-five
    54  dollars, and for the biennial registration period ending December  thir-
    55  ty-first,  nineteen hundred eighty-two a fee of twenty dollars and a fee
    56  of fifty dollars for each triennial registration period.

        A. 10489                            4
     1    § 4. Section 6742-a of the education law, as added by chapter  207  of
     2  the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
     3    §  6742-a.  Mandatory continuing education. 1. (a) Each licensed phys-
     4  ical therapist and [certified]  licensed  physical  therapist  assistant
     5  required  under this article to register triennially with the department
     6  to practice in the state shall comply with the provisions of the  manda-
     7  tory  continuing education requirements prescribed in subdivision two of
     8  this section except as set forth in  paragraphs  (b)  and  (c)  of  this
     9  subdivision.  Licensed physical therapist and [certified] licensed phys-
    10  ical therapist assistants who do not satisfy  the  mandatory  continuing
    11  education  requirements  shall  not  practice  until  they have met such
    12  requirements, and they have  been  issued  a  registration  certificate,
    13  except  that a licensed physical therapist or [certified] licensed phys-
    14  ical therapist assistant may practice without having met  such  require-
    15  ments  if  he  or  she  is issued a conditional registration certificate
    16  pursuant to subdivision three of this section.
    17    (b) Each licensed physical therapist and [certified] licensed physical
    18  therapist assistant shall be exempt from the mandatory continuing educa-
    19  tion requirement for the triennial registration period during which they
    20  are first licensed. In accordance  with  the  intent  of  this  section,
    21  adjustment  to  the  mandatory  continuing  education requirement may be
    22  granted by the department for reasons of health certified by  an  appro-
    23  priate health care professional, for extended active duty with the armed
    24  forces  of  the United States, or for other good cause acceptable to the
    25  department which may prevent compliance.
    26    (c) A licensed physical therapist and  [certified]  licensed  physical
    27  therapist  assistant  not  engaged  in  practice,  as  determined by the
    28  department, shall be exempt  from  the  mandatory  continuing  education
    29  requirement upon the filing of a statement with the department declaring
    30  such status. Any licensee who returns to the practice of physical thera-
    31  py  during the triennial registration period shall notify the department
    32  prior to reentering the profession and shall meet such mandatory  educa-
    33  tion  requirements  as shall be prescribed by regulations of the commis-
    34  sioner.
    35    2. During each triennial registration period an applicant  for  regis-
    36  tration  as  a licensed physical therapist or [certified] licensed phys-
    37  ical therapist assistant shall complete a minimum of thirty-six hours of
    38  acceptable formal continuing education, as specified in subdivision four
    39  of this section. Any licensed physical therapist or [certified] licensed
    40  physical therapist assistant whose first registration date following the
    41  effective date of this section occurs less than three  years  from  such
    42  effective  date,  but on or after January first, two thousand ten, shall
    43  complete continuing education hours on a prorated basis at the  rate  of
    44  one-half  hour  per  month  for  the period beginning January first, two
    45  thousand ten up to the first registration date  thereafter.  A  licensee
    46  who  has  not  satisfied the mandatory continuing education requirements
    47  shall not be issued a triennial registration certificate by the  depart-
    48  ment  and shall not practice unless and until a conditional registration
    49  certificate is issued as provided  for  in  subdivision  three  of  this
    50  section.  Continuing  education hours taken during one triennium may not
    51  be transferred to a subsequent triennium.
    52    3. The department, in its discretion, may issue a  conditional  regis-
    53  tration  to  a  licensee  who  fails  to  meet  the continuing education
    54  requirements established in subdivision two  of  this  section  but  who
    55  agrees to make up any deficiencies and complete any additional education
    56  which  the  department may require the fee for such a conditional regis-

        A. 10489                            5
     1  tration shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee for the trien-
     2  nial registration. The duration of such conditional  registration  shall
     3  be  determined  by  the  department  but  shall not exceed one year. Any
     4  licensee  who  is  notified of the denial of registration for failure to
     5  submit evidence, satisfactory to the department, of required  continuing
     6  education  and who practices without such registration may be subject to
     7  disciplinary proceedings pursuant to section sixty-five hundred  ten  of
     8  this title.
     9    4.  As  used  in  subdivision  two of this section, "acceptable formal
    10  education" shall mean formal courses of  learning  which  contribute  to
    11  professional  practice  in physical therapy and which meet the standards
    12  prescribed by regulations of the commissioner. Such  formal  courses  of
    13  learning  shall  include, but not be limited to, collegiate level credit
    14  and non-credit courses, professional development programs and  technical
    15  sessions  offered by national, state and local professional associations
    16  and other organizations acceptable to  the  department,  and  any  other
    17  organized  educational  and technical programs acceptable to the depart-
    18  ment. The department may, in its discretion and as needed to  contribute
    19  to  the  health  and  welfare  of  the public, require the completion of
    20  continuing education courses in specific subjects to fulfill this manda-
    21  tory continuing education requirement. Courses  must  be  taken  from  a
    22  sponsor  approved  by the department, pursuant to the regulations of the
    23  commissioner.
    24    5. Licensed physical therapist or [certified] licensed physical thera-
    25  pist assistant shall maintain adequate documentation  of  completion  of
    26  acceptable formal continuing education and shall provide such documenta-
    27  tion  at the request of the department. Failure to provide such documen-
    28  tation upon the request of the department shall be an act of  misconduct
    29  subject  to  disciplinary  proceedings  pursuant  to  section sixty-five
    30  hundred ten of this title.
    31    6. The mandatory continuing education fee shall be forty-five dollars,
    32  shall be payable on or before the first day of each triennial  registra-
    33  tion period, and shall be paid in addition to the triennial registration
    34  fee required by section sixty-seven hundred thirty-four of this article.
    35    § 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
    36  it shall have become a law; provided, however, that amendments to subdi-
    37  visions c and d of section 6738 of the education law made by section one
    38  of  this  act  shall  not affect the expiration of such subdivisions and
    39  shall be deemed repealed therewith. Effective immediately, the addition,
    40  amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary  for  the
    41  implementation  of  this  act  on  its effective date are authorized and
    42  directed to be made and completed by the commissioner of  education  and
    43  the board of regents on or before such effective date.
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