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Texas Occupations Code - OCC § 453.301. Practice by Physical Therapist

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) A physical therapist may treat a patient for an injury or condition in a manner described by Section 453.005 without a referral if the physical therapist:

(1) has been licensed to practice physical therapy for at least one year;

(2) is covered by professional liability insurance in the minimum amount required by board rule;  and

(3) either:

(A) possesses a doctoral degree in physical therapy from:

(i) a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education;  or

(ii) an institution that is accredited by an agency or association recognized by the United States secretary of education;  or

(B) has completed at least 30 hours of continuing competence activities in the area of differential diagnosis.

(a-1) A physical therapist may treat a patient under Subsection (a) for not more than 30 consecutive calendar days.

(a-2) Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., ch. 1090 (H.B. 4099), § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2025.

(b) The physical therapist must obtain a referral from a referring practitioner before the physical therapist may continue treatment that exceeds treatment authorized under Subsection (a-1) .

(c) A physical therapist who treats a patient without a referral shall obtain from the patient a signed disclosure on a form prescribed by the board in which the patient acknowledges that:

(1) physical therapy is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis by a physician;

(2) physical therapy is not based on radiological imaging;

(3) a physical therapist cannot diagnose an illness or disease;  and

(4) the patient's health insurance may not include coverage for the physical therapist's services.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Texas Occupations Code - OCC § 453.301. Practice by Physical Therapist - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/occupations-code/occ-sect-453-301/

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