Committee agrees to amendment allowing nurse midwives to refer patients for physical therapy
October 29, 2025 | Professional Licensure, House of Representatives, Legislative, Pennsylvania
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The House Professional Licensure Committee on Oct. 31 agreed to an amendment and reported House Bill 1251, which would allow certified nurse midwives to refer patients for physical therapy.
"This is so exciting," Representative Curry told the committee, linking the bill to broader maternal-health efforts and her work with the March of Dimes and midwives. She said midwives often identify postpartum needs such as pelvic-floor therapy and that broadening referral authority would "open and widen the opportunity for midwives to be able to, prescribe, physical therapy." She added, "the midwives know when this is necessary."
Committee staff explained amendment A-01971 adds a definition of "midwife" to the Physical Therapy Practice Act and makes the term consistent throughout the bill. The committee voted to adopt the amendment; the bill was reported as amended from the House Professional Licensure Committee with no negative votes recorded in the transcript.
The amendment and reported bill move House Bill 1251 forward in the legislative process.
"This is so exciting," Representative Curry told the committee, linking the bill to broader maternal-health efforts and her work with the March of Dimes and midwives. She said midwives often identify postpartum needs such as pelvic-floor therapy and that broadening referral authority would "open and widen the opportunity for midwives to be able to, prescribe, physical therapy." She added, "the midwives know when this is necessary."
Committee staff explained amendment A-01971 adds a definition of "midwife" to the Physical Therapy Practice Act and makes the term consistent throughout the bill. The committee voted to adopt the amendment; the bill was reported as amended from the House Professional Licensure Committee with no negative votes recorded in the transcript.
The amendment and reported bill move House Bill 1251 forward in the legislative process.
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