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Supporters tell committee an APRT license could expand access to specialized pulmonary care
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Summary
Proponents of House Bill 253 testified that creating a licensed Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapist (APRT) would ease workforce shortages in cardiopulmonary care, improve continuity and access (particularly in rural areas), and operate under physician supervision. Testimony came from professional associations, an Ohio State University program
Proponents of House Bill 253 told the House Health Committee that establishing a licensed Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapist (APRT) would provide a regulated clinical career ladder for respiratory therapists and expand access to specialized cardiopulmonary care.
Kelly Hikes, director of government relations for the Ohio Nurses Association, told the committee HB253 "creates a new, advanced license for respiratory therapist" and that the Ohio Nurses Association "strongly supports it" as a way to strengthen team‑based care and address workforce shortages exacerbated by COVID‑19.
Nancy Colletti of the Ohio Society for Respiratory Care testified that the APRT would be a master's‑level professional who manages cardiopulmonary patients "under the supervision of physicians who are specialists in cardiopulmonary medicine," and emphasized the bill does not create independent practice. Colletti said APRTs would perform advanced diagnostics and therapy, interpret pulmonary function tests, and develop evidence‑based care plans in collaboration with supervising specialists.
Sarah Veracogis, director of clinical education for Ohio State University's MRT graduate program, described a 2012 statewide needs assessment and subsequent national surveys showing demand for non‑physician advanced practice providers with cardiopulmonary expertise. She said Ohio State’s accredited program has produced graduates since 2021 and that two graduates currently work at the VA Maryland Healthcare System, which hired APRTs to address pulmonologist shortages.
Laura Evans, a pediatric respiratory therapy manager, described potential system benefits: APRTs could manage chronically ventilated children outside the ICU, help prevent readmissions, and reduce strain on critical care beds.
Committee members asked about scope of practice, billing, supervision, and where APRTs could work. Witnesses said APRTs would practice under delegated physician supervision, bill using standard CPT/HCPCS codes, and be restricted to supervising specialties such as pulmonology, critical care, sleep medicine, and anesthesiology. Witnesses emphasized the license is intended to increase access in rural and underserved areas and to provide a career pathway that retains experienced therapists in cardiopulmonary care.
At the close of the proponent testimony the chair noted more than a dozen written testimonies were on file and the committee paused before proceeding to the next agenda item.
No committee action on HB253 was recorded at this hearing.
