ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	House: HHS DPA 10-2-0-0

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HB 2583: physical therapists; imaging; laboratory tests

Sponsor: Representative Bliss, LD 1

House Engrossed

Overview

Permits physical therapist to order imaging only for a patient with whom the physical therapists has a physical therapist-patient relationship and for whom there is a clinical need for the order.

History

The Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy (Board) protects the public from incompetent, unprofessional and unlawful practices of physical therapy. The Board licenses and certifies qualified applicants as physical therapists and physical therapist assistants and establishes standards for the practice of physical therapy (A.R.S. § 32-2003).

A physical therapist may order musculoskeletal imaging consisting of plain film radiographs. The imaging must be performed by a health care practitioner who is authorized to perform the imaging and must be interpreted by a licensed medical doctor, osteopathic or naturopathic physician trained in radiology interpretation.

A physical therapist must report results for all imaging tests the physical therapist orders to the patient's health care practitioner of record or the referring health care practitioner, if designated, within seven days after receiving the results. If the patient does not have a health care practitioner of record, the physical therapist must refer the patient to an appropriate health care practitioner if the physical therapist has reasonable cause to believe that any symptoms or conditions are present that may require services beyond the physical therapist's scope of practice (A.R.S. § 32-2041.01).

Provisions

1. Allows a physical therapist to order imaging only for a patient with whom the physical therapists has a physical therapist-patient relationship and for whom there is a clinical need for the order. (Sec. 1)

2. Clarifies that physical therapists may order imaging, rather than just musculoskeletal imaging consisting of plain film radiographs. (Sec. 1)

3. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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7.                   HB 2583

8. Initials AG           Page 0 House Engrossed

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