California Physical Therapists: Direct access for students with an IEP

This applies to California Physical Therapists

Here are two resources to check out:

1. https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20172018/AB2423/

   Excerpt:

   “ABSTRACT

   The Physical Therapy Practice Act creates the Physical Therapy Board of California and makes it responsible for the licensure and regulation of physical therapists. The act makes it a crime to violate any of its provisions. The act authorizes a patient to access physical therapy treatment directly from a licensed physical therapist if the treatment is within the scope of practice of physical therapists and prescribed conditions are met, including a treatment limit prohibiting the physical therapist from continuing treatment beyond 45 calendar days or 12 visits, whichever occurs first, without receiving specified doctor approval of the physical therapist's plan of care. The act exempts from that plan of care approval condition for continuing treatment the provision of certain wellness physical therapy services to a patient. This bill would also exempt from that condition the provision of physical therapy services as part of an individualized family service plan or an individualized education plan pursuant to specified state statutes and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to an individual who does not have a medical diagnosis.”

2. PDF: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://abp.assembly.ca.gov/sites/abp.assembly.ca.gov/files/hearings/180403%2520AB%25202423%2520Holden%2520Analysis.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjFj4ah7PL5AhUoLkQIHdYFBgoQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2QRyNqOk7j4m1KRKYFEwhk

   Excerpt:

   “Date of Hearing: April 3, 2018

   ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS Evan Low, Chair
   AB 2423 (Holden) – As Introduced February 14, 2018

   SUBJECT: Physical therapists: direct access to services: plan of care approval.

   SUMMARY: Exempts physical therapy services as part of an individualized education program (IEP) pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from the direct access limitation prohibiting physical therapists from continuing treatment beyond 45 calendar days or 12 visits, whichever occurs first, without receiving a doctor’s signed approval of the physical therapist’s plan of care.”

The language can be a bit confusing but these seem to be good summaries if you or your districts have questions. In the school setting, physical therapists are not treating based on a medical diagnosis, instead they are providing treatment based on educational necessity.