summary
Introduced
02/07/2025
02/07/2025
In Committee
03/21/2025
03/21/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Illinois Physical Therapy Act. Provides that initial physical therapy evaluations without a referral or an established diagnosis may be performed by a licensed physical therapist via telehealth when the physical therapist determines that an in-person examination is not required based on the physical therapist's clinical judgment and the applicable standard of care (rather than cannot be performed via telehealth unless necessary to address a documented hardship). Provides that a physical therapist or a licensed physical therapy assistant may require the patient to undergo an in-person visit instead of providing telehealth services (rather than the use of telehealth as a primary means of delivering physical therapy must be an exception and documentation must support the clinical justification). Provides that a physical therapist providing telehealth must have the capacity to provide or be able to facilitate a referral to in-person care within the State (rather than must only have the capacity to provide in-person care). Provides that the standard of care for a patient receiving physical therapy through telehealth is equal to the standard of care for in-person care.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Illinois Physical Therapy Act to expand and clarify the use of telehealth services for physical therapy. The legislation allows licensed physical therapists to perform initial evaluations via telehealth when they determine an in-person examination is not necessary, based on their clinical judgment and standard of care. Previously, telehealth was more restrictively viewed as an exception to in-person care. The bill ensures that physical therapists providing telehealth services must have the ability to facilitate in-person care within the state if needed, and establishes that the standard of care for telehealth is equivalent to in-person treatment. This change aims to improve patient access to physical therapy services, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources or for patients with mobility challenges. By allowing more flexible telehealth options, the bill recognizes the evolving nature of healthcare delivery and the potential benefits of remote medical consultations and assessments.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (on 03/21/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=3402&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104 |
| BillText | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/104/HB/10400HB3402.htm |
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