Sec. 17607.

(1) An individual shall not engage in the practice of speech-language pathology unless licensed under this part.

(2) A licensee shall not perform an act, task, or function within the practice of speech-language pathology unless he or she is trained to perform the act, task, or function and the performance of that act, task, or function is consistent with the rules promulgated under section 17610(3). A speech-language pathologist shall refer a patient to an individual licensed in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery if signs or symptoms identified during the practice of speech-language pathology cause the speech-language pathologist to suspect that the patient has an underlying medical condition.

(3) A licensee shall perform assessment, treatment or therapy, and procedures related to swallowing disorders and medically related communication disorders only on patients who have been referred to him or her by an individual licensed in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery or by an advanced practice registered nurse as that term is defined in section 17201.

(4) A licensee shall only perform diagnostic testing, such as endoscopic videolaryngostroboscopy, in collaboration with or under the supervision of an individual licensed in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(5) A licensee shall follow procedures in which collaboration among the licensee and an individual licensed in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery and other licensed health care professionals is regarded to be in the best interests of the patient.

(6) Subsection (1) does not prevent any of the following:

(a) An individual licensed or registered under any other part or act from performing activities that are considered speech-language pathology services if those activities are within the individual's scope of practice and if the individual does not use the titles protected under section 17603.

(b) The practice of speech-language pathology that is an integral part of a program of study by students enrolled in an accredited speech-language pathology educational program approved by the board, if those individuals are identified as students and provide speech-language pathology services only while under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist.

(c) Self-care by a patient or uncompensated care by a friend or family member who does not represent or hold himself or herself out to be a licensed speech-language pathologist.

History: Add. 2008, Act 524, Imd. Eff. Jan. 13, 2009 ;-- Am. 2016, Act 499, Eff. Apr. 9, 2017 Popular Name: Act 368