Bill > A1839

Introduced Session

This bill revises the "Physical Therapist Licensing Act of 1983" by expanding the scope of practice of physical therapists to include: identification of balance disorders; treatment by means of intramuscular manual therapy, wound debridement and care; screening, examination, evaluation, and application of interventions for the promotion, improvement, and maintenance of fitness, health, wellness, and prevention services in populations of all ages exclusively related to physical therapy practice. Under current law, physical therapist assistants are under the direct supervision of licensed physical therapists. The bill provides, instead, for general supervision of physical therapist assistants under certain circumstances. The bill stipulates that a physical therapist shall provide direct supervision of a physical therapy assistant for at least 50 percent of the hours worked by the physical therapy assistant during each calendar week. As defined in the bill, "general supervision" means supervision by a physical therapist in which: the physical therapist must be available at all times by telecommunications but is not required to be on-site for direction and supervision; and the supervising physical therapist assesses on an ongoing basis the ability of the physical therapy assistant to perform the selected interventions as directed. The bill further provides that the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners shall establish guidelines concerning the general supervision of physical therapist assistants including, but not limited to: on-site review of the plan of care with appropriate revision or termination; and evaluation of the need for, and a recommendation regarding, utilization of outside resources. The bill also permits physical therapists licensed in other jurisdictions, under certain conditions as enumerated in the bill, to participate in educational activities occurring in New Jersey and to assist in providing services in this State during emergency situations. In addition, the bill changes the current references concerning continuing education requirements to continuing professional education and competency requirements. "Continuing professional education and competency" is defined as the lifelong process of maintaining and documenting the application of knowledge, skills and behaviors required to function effectively, safely, ethically and legally, through ongoing self-assessment, development, and implementation of a personal learning plan and subsequent reassessment. Furthermore, this bill provides that a person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if the person knowingly does not possess a license to practice physical therapy or knowingly has had such license suspended, revoked or otherwise limited by an order entered by the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, and he: -- engages in the practice of physical therapy; -- exceeds the scope of practice permitted by the board order; -- holds himself out to the public or any person as being eligible to engage in the practice of physical therapy; -- engages in any activity for which a license to practice physical therapy is a necessary prerequisite; or -- practices physical therapy under a false or assumed name or falsely impersonates another person licensed by the board. Under the bill, however, these provisions would not apply to a person practicing physical therapy without a license if that person's activities are permitted under section 9 of P.L.1983, c.296 (C.45:9-37.19).

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Thomas Giblin (D)*,  John McKeon (D)*,  Raj Mukherji (D)*,  Shavonda Sumter (D)*,  Benjie Wimberly (D)*,  Jack Ciattarelli (R),  Patrick Diegnan (D),  Mila Jasey (D),  Angelica Jimenez (D),  Declan O'Scanlon (R),  David Rible (R), 

Substituted by S1315 (2R) (on 06/22/2017)