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Committee backs bill letting physical therapists certify temporary handicap placards
Summary
The Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee approved House Bill 3842 as amended, allowing physical therapists to certify temporary disability placards for up to 30 days; longer temporary placards would require physician involvement under existing practice-act referrals.
At a meeting of the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, members voted to report House Bill 3842 favorably as amended, a measure that would allow physical therapists to certify temporary disability placards for motorists.
The amendment approved by the committee removes language that would have authorized permanent certification by physical therapists and limits their authority to issue temporary placards for up to 30 days. Under the amendment, if a patient needs an extended temporary placard beyond 30 days, a physician must authorize further certification under the state practice act and may refer the patient back to the physical therapist for a temporary placard of up to 12 months.
Chair Lady Davis opened discussion and Representative Sessions delivered the subcommittee report, explaining the change was intended to avoid creating a backdoor scope-of-practice expansion while providing consistency of immediate care. Representative Pace asked whether patients must be referred to a physical therapist or may see a physical therapist directly; staff and Representative Sessions confirmed patients may see a physical therapist on their own for up to 30 days but that, per current statute and the practice act, continued episodes of care beyond that period require physician involvement even for patients paying cash.
The committee adopted the amendment by roll call and then gave the bill a favorable report as amended. The roll call recorded affirmative votes from members present; the committee chair announced all were in favor of the amendment and of the bill as amended.
The measure, as amended, codifies a practice that committee members said already occurs in clinical settings while limiting the physical therapist’s certification power to temporary placards. No effective date or final enactment details were discussed during the committee meeting.
Votes at a glance: Amendment 1 — adopted (favorable roll call); Bill as amended — favorable report (favorable roll call).
