Sec. 453.301. PRACTICE BY PHYSICAL THERAPIST. (a) A physical therapist may treat a patient for an injury or condition in a manner described by Section 453.005 without a referral if the physical therapist:

(1) has been licensed to practice physical therapy for at least one year;

(2) is covered by professional liability insurance in the minimum amount required by board rule; and

(3) either:

(A) possesses a doctoral degree in physical therapy from:

(i) a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; or

(ii) an institution that is accredited by an agency or association recognized by the United States secretary of education; or

(B) has completed at least 30 hours of continuing competence activities in the area of differential diagnosis.

(a-1) Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), a physical therapist may treat a patient under Subsection (a) for not more than 10 consecutive business days.

(a-2) A physical therapist who possesses a doctoral degree described by Subsection (a)(3)(A) and has completed a residency or fellowship may treat a patient under Subsection (a) for not more than 15 consecutive business days.

(b) The physical therapist must obtain a referral from a referring practitioner before the physical therapist may continue treatment that exceeds treatment authorized under Subsection (a-1) or (a-2), as applicable.

(c) A physical therapist who treats a patient without a referral shall obtain from the patient a signed disclosure on a form prescribed by the board in which the patient acknowledges that:

(1) physical therapy is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis by a physician;

(2) physical therapy is not based on radiological imaging;

(3) a physical therapist cannot diagnose an illness or disease; and

(4) the patient's health insurance may not include coverage for the physical therapist's services.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1021 (H.B. 29), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.