Physical Therapy Board votes to seek higher fee caps after DCA fiscal review

The Physical Therapy Board of California voted 4–0 on March 19 to pursue legislation raising the board’s statutory fee caps, a step board members said is needed after a data‑driven review of the board’s fund condition and projected costs.

Board President Dr. Karen Brandon introduced the motion asking the Legislature to amend Business and Professions Code §2688 and set new upper limits on several licensing fees, including a proposed PT application and renewal cap of $600. "I propose a PT application cap set at $600," Dr. Brandon said when reading the motion for the board.

Why it matters: Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) fiscal staff told the board its fund condition is structurally imbalanced and projected to decline to levels the board judges unsustainable unless revenue flexibility is provided. Matt Nishamini, DCA senior fiscal adviser, said the board faces both direct processing costs and growing indirect charges — notably higher hourly costs billed by the Attorney General’s Office and by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). "And we can't have that," Nishamini said as he described the model that showed reserves declining into yellow and red ranges under current law.

What the analysis found: DCA presented a driver‑based cost model…