Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Physical Therapy Workforce topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances changes to physical-therapy practice act to address workforce shortages
Summary
House Bill 159 was reported favorable after sponsors and APTA representatives said the bill removes barriers for stable patients, increases supervised personnel limits and requires reassessment intervals, intended to address workforce shortages and improve access.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee reported House Bill 159 favorable after testimony from physical-therapy stakeholders that the bill would ease barriers to patient access while preserving safeguards for complex cases.
Representative Joe Stagney, sponsor, said HB 159 cleans up language in the Physical Therapy Practice Act to increase access amid projected workforce shortfalls and rising demand. Testifying for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Louisiana, Dr. Christina Foshee, governmental affairs chair, said guardrails remain for complex or medically fragile patients and that changes in the bill target stable patients who are progressing and only need treatment progression.
The bill raises the number of supervised employees to six and requires that a physical therapist reassess and examine a patient every 12 visits or within 30 days. Stakeholders including hospital representatives and APTA chapters signed in support. Senator Boudreau moved to report HB 159 favorable; with no objections the committee reported the bill favorable by voice consent.
