100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4643

 

Introduced , by Rep. Daniel J. Burke and Theresa Mah

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
225 ILCS 90/1  from Ch. 111, par. 4251
225 ILCS 90/17  from Ch. 111, par. 4267

    Amends the Illinois Physical Therapy Act. Provides that the limitation on determining a differential diagnosis shall not in any manner limit a physical therapist from establishing a relevant diagnosis. In the definition of "documented current and relevant diagnosis" and in provisions concerning disciplinary actions, removes language requiring a diagnosis to be substantiated by a physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or podiatric physician. Effective immediately.


LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4643LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Physical Therapy Act is amended by
5changing Sections 1 and 17 as follows:
 
6    (225 ILCS 90/1)  (from Ch. 111, par. 4251)
7    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)
8    Sec. 1. Definitions. As used in this Act:
9    (1) "Physical therapy" means all of the following:
10        (A) Examining, evaluating, and testing individuals who
11    may have mechanical, physiological, or developmental
12    impairments, functional limitations, disabilities, or
13    other health and movement-related conditions, classifying
14    these disorders, determining a rehabilitation prognosis
15    and plan of therapeutic intervention, and assessing the
16    ongoing on-going effects of the interventions.
17        (B) Alleviating impairments, functional limitations,
18    or disabilities by designing, implementing, and modifying
19    therapeutic interventions that may include, but are not
20    limited to, the evaluation or treatment of a person through
21    the use of the effective properties of physical measures
22    and heat, cold, light, water, radiant energy, electricity,
23    sound, and air and use of therapeutic massage, therapeutic

 

 

HB4643- 2 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1    exercise, mobilization, and rehabilitative procedures,
2    with or without assistive devices, for the purposes of
3    preventing, correcting, or alleviating a physical or
4    mental impairment, functional limitation, or disability.
5        (C) Reducing the risk of injury, impairment,
6    functional limitation, or disability, including the
7    promotion and maintenance of fitness, health, and
8    wellness.
9        (D) Engaging in administration, consultation,
10    education, and research.
11    "Physical therapy" includes, but is not limited to: (a)
12performance of specialized tests and measurements, (b)
13administration of specialized treatment procedures, (c)
14interpretation of referrals from physicians, dentists,
15advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and
16podiatric physicians, (d) establishment, and modification of
17physical therapy treatment programs, (e) administration of
18topical medication used in generally accepted physical therapy
19procedures when such medication is either prescribed by the
20patient's physician, licensed to practice medicine in all its
21branches, the patient's physician licensed to practice
22podiatric medicine, the patient's advanced practice registered
23nurse, the patient's physician assistant, or the patient's
24dentist or used following the physician's orders or written
25instructions, (f) supervision or teaching of physical therapy,
26and (g) dry needling in accordance with Section 1.5. "Physical

 

 

HB4643- 3 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1therapy" does not include radiology, electrosurgery,
2chiropractic technique or determination of a differential
3diagnosis; provided, however, the limitation on determining a
4differential diagnosis shall not in any manner limit a physical
5therapist licensed under this Act from performing an evaluation
6and establishing a relevant diagnosis pursuant to such license.
7Nothing in this Section shall limit a physical therapist from
8employing appropriate physical therapy techniques that he or
9she is educated and licensed to perform. A physical therapist
10shall refer to a licensed physician, advanced practice
11registered nurse, physician assistant, dentist, podiatric
12physician, other physical therapist, or other health care
13provider any patient whose medical condition should, at the
14time of evaluation or treatment, be determined to be beyond the
15scope of practice of the physical therapist.
16    (2) "Physical therapist" means a person who practices
17physical therapy and who has met all requirements as provided
18in this Act.
19    (3) "Department" means the Department of Professional
20Regulation.
21    (4) "Director" means the Director of Professional
22Regulation.
23    (5) "Board" means the Physical Therapy Licensing and
24Disciplinary Board approved by the Director.
25    (6) "Referral" means a written or oral authorization for
26physical therapy services for a patient by a physician,

 

 

HB4643- 4 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician
2assistant, or podiatric physician who maintains medical
3supervision of the patient and makes a diagnosis or verifies
4that the patient's condition is such that it may be treated by
5a physical therapist.
6    (7) "Documented current and relevant diagnosis" for the
7purpose of this Act means a diagnosis, substantiated by
8signature or oral verification of a physician, dentist,
9advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or
10podiatric physician, that a patient's condition is such that it
11may be treated by physical therapy as defined in this Act,
12which diagnosis shall remain in effect until changed by the
13physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse,
14physician assistant, or podiatric physician.
15    (8) "State" includes:
16        (a) the states of the United States of America;
17        (b) the District of Columbia; and
18        (c) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
19    (9) "Physical therapist assistant" means a person licensed
20to assist a physical therapist and who has met all requirements
21as provided in this Act and who works under the supervision of
22a licensed physical therapist to assist in implementing the
23physical therapy treatment program as established by the
24licensed physical therapist. The patient care activities
25provided by the physical therapist assistant shall not include
26the interpretation of referrals, evaluation procedures, or the

 

 

HB4643- 5 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1planning or major modification of patient programs.
2    (10) "Physical therapy aide" means a person who has
3received on the job training, specific to the facility in which
4he is employed.
5    (11) "Advanced practice registered nurse" means a person
6licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse under the
7Nurse Practice Act.
8    (12) "Physician assistant" means a person licensed under
9the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987.
10(Source: P.A. 99-173, eff. 7-29-15; 99-229, eff. 8-3-15;
1199-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 100-418, eff.
128-25-17; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18; revised 9-29-17.)
 
13    (225 ILCS 90/17)  (from Ch. 111, par. 4267)
14    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)
15    Sec. 17. (1) The Department may refuse to issue or to
16renew, or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand,
17or take other disciplinary action as the Department deems
18appropriate, including the issuance of fines not to exceed
19$5000, with regard to a license for any one or a combination of
20the following:
21        A. Material misstatement in furnishing information to
22    the Department or otherwise making misleading, deceptive,
23    untrue, or fraudulent representations in violation of this
24    Act or otherwise in the practice of the profession;
25        B. Violations of this Act, or of the rules or

 

 

HB4643- 6 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1    regulations promulgated hereunder;
2        C. Conviction of any crime under the laws of the United
3    States or any state or territory thereof which is a felony
4    or which is a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is
5    dishonesty, or of any crime which is directly related to
6    the practice of the profession; conviction, as used in this
7    paragraph, shall include a finding or verdict of guilty, an
8    admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere;
9        D. Making any misrepresentation for the purpose of
10    obtaining licenses, or violating any provision of this Act
11    or the rules promulgated thereunder pertaining to
12    advertising;
13        E. A pattern of practice or other behavior which
14    demonstrates incapacity or incompetency to practice under
15    this Act;
16        F. Aiding or assisting another person in violating any
17    provision of this Act or Rules;
18        G. Failing, within 60 days, to provide information in
19    response to a written request made by the Department;
20        H. Engaging in dishonorable, unethical or
21    unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive,
22    defraud or harm the public. Unprofessional conduct shall
23    include any departure from or the failure to conform to the
24    minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing physical
25    therapy practice, in which proceeding actual injury to a
26    patient need not be established;

 

 

HB4643- 7 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1        I. Unlawful distribution of any drug or narcotic, or
2    unlawful conversion of any drug or narcotic not belonging
3    to the person for such person's own use or benefit or for
4    other than medically accepted therapeutic purposes;
5        J. Habitual or excessive use or addiction to alcohol,
6    narcotics, stimulants, or any other chemical agent or drug
7    which results in a physical therapist's or physical
8    therapist assistant's inability to practice with
9    reasonable judgment, skill or safety;
10        K. Revocation or suspension of a license to practice
11    physical therapy as a physical therapist or physical
12    therapist assistant or the taking of other disciplinary
13    action by the proper licensing authority of another state,
14    territory or country;
15        L. Directly or indirectly giving to or receiving from
16    any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association
17    any fee, commission, rebate or other form of compensation
18    for any professional services not actually or personally
19    rendered. Nothing contained in this paragraph prohibits
20    persons holding valid and current licenses under this Act
21    from practicing physical therapy in partnership under a
22    partnership agreement, including a limited liability
23    partnership, a limited liability company, or a corporation
24    under the Professional Service Corporation Act or from
25    pooling, sharing, dividing, or apportioning the fees and
26    monies received by them or by the partnership, company, or

 

 

HB4643- 8 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1    corporation in accordance with the partnership agreement
2    or the policies of the company or professional corporation.
3    Nothing in this paragraph (L) affects any bona fide
4    independent contractor or employment arrangements among
5    health care professionals, health facilities, health care
6    providers, or other entities, except as otherwise
7    prohibited by law. Any employment arrangements may include
8    provisions for compensation, health insurance, pension, or
9    other employment benefits for the provision of services
10    within the scope of the licensee's practice under this Act.
11    Nothing in this paragraph (L) shall be construed to require
12    an employment arrangement to receive professional fees for
13    services rendered;
14        M. A finding by the Board that the licensee after
15    having his or her license placed on probationary status has
16    violated the terms of probation;
17        N. Abandonment of a patient;
18        O. Willfully failing to report an instance of suspected
19    child abuse or neglect as required by the Abused and
20    Neglected Child Reporting Act;
21        P. Willfully failing to report an instance of suspected
22    elder abuse or neglect as required by the Elder Abuse
23    Reporting Act;
24        Q. Physical illness, including but not limited to,
25    deterioration through the aging process, or loss of motor
26    skill which results in the inability to practice the

 

 

HB4643- 9 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1    profession with reasonable judgement, skill or safety;
2        R. The use of any words (such as physical therapy,
3    physical therapist physiotherapy or physiotherapist),
4    abbreviations, figures or letters with the intention of
5    indicating practice as a licensed physical therapist
6    without a valid license as a physical therapist issued
7    under this Act;
8        S. The use of the term physical therapist assistant, or
9    abbreviations, figures, or letters with the intention of
10    indicating practice as a physical therapist assistant
11    without a valid license as a physical therapist assistant
12    issued under this Act;
13        T. Willfully violating or knowingly assisting in the
14    violation of any law of this State relating to the practice
15    of abortion;
16        U. Continued practice by a person knowingly having an
17    infectious, communicable or contagious disease;
18        V. Having treated ailments of human beings otherwise
19    than by the practice of physical therapy as defined in this
20    Act, or having treated ailments of human beings as a
21    licensed physical therapist independent of a documented
22    referral or a documented current and relevant diagnosis
23    from a physician, dentist, advanced practice registered
24    nurse, physician assistant, or podiatric physician, or
25    having failed to notify the physician, dentist, advanced
26    practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or

 

 

HB4643- 10 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1    podiatric physician who established a documented current
2    and relevant diagnosis that the patient is receiving
3    physical therapy pursuant to that diagnosis;
4        W. Being named as a perpetrator in an indicated report
5    by the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant
6    to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and upon
7    proof by clear and convincing evidence that the licensee
8    has caused a child to be an abused child or neglected child
9    as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act;
10        X. Interpretation of referrals, performance of
11    evaluation procedures, planning or making major
12    modifications of patient programs by a physical therapist
13    assistant;
14        Y. Failure by a physical therapist assistant and
15    supervising physical therapist to maintain continued
16    contact, including periodic personal supervision and
17    instruction, to insure safety and welfare of patients;
18        Z. Violation of the Health Care Worker Self-Referral
19    Act.
20    (2) The determination by a circuit court that a licensee is
21subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission as
22provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
23Code operates as an automatic suspension. Such suspension will
24end only upon a finding by a court that the patient is no
25longer subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission
26and the issuance of an order so finding and discharging the

 

 

HB4643- 11 -LRB100 18534 XWW 33752 b

1patient; and upon the recommendation of the Board to the
2Director that the licensee be allowed to resume his practice.
3    (3) The Department may refuse to issue or may suspend the
4license of any person who fails to file a return, or to pay the
5tax, penalty or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any
6final assessment of tax, penalty or interest, as required by
7any tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue,
8until such time as the requirements of any such tax Act are
9satisfied.
10(Source: P.A. 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
12becoming law.