Direct Access

ACT 396

On June 6, 2016 Senate Bill No. 291, amending the Louisiana Physical Therapy Practice Act found at La. R.S. 37:2418 et seq., became law allowing patients direct access to physical therapy. This law is effective as of June 6, 2016. A summary of the changes in the law are as follows:

1. A physical therapist possessing a doctorate degree or five years of licensed clinical practice experience may implement physical therapy treatment without a prescription or referral;
2. A physical therapist treating a patient without a prescription or referral must refer the patient to an appropriate healthcare provider if, after thirty days of physical therapy treatment, the patient has not made measureable or functional improvement;
3. The new direct access provisions do not change the law as it related to Workers’ Compensation as specified in La. R.S. 23:1142, monetary limits of health care provider approval; La. R.S. 23:1122, Worker’s Compensation Medical Examinations; and La. R.S. 23:1203.1, Worker’s Compensation Benefits;
4. No physical therapist shall render a medical diagnosis of disease.

While patient access to physical therapy has changed, the scope and practice of physical therapy remains the same.¹Physical therapists conduct an initial physical therapy examination and render a physical therapy diagnosis treating only those conditions within the physical therapy scope of practice. In addition, a physical therapist remains responsible for managing all aspects of the physical therapy care of each patient. ²A physical therapist must continue to practice within his/her individual scope of practice by exercising sound professional judgment based on his/her individual knowledge, skill set, education, training and experience, and only perform those procedures in which he/she is competent. ³If in practicing within his/her individual scope of practice the physical therapist finds that the treatment needed is outside his/her scope of knowledge, experience, or expertise, the physical therapist must notify the patient and appropriately refer to another healthcare provider. ⁴It is important to note that direct patient access does not impact payment procedure or guarantee payment from payor sources.