HOUSE BILL NO. 4505

May 04, 2023, Introduced by Reps. Zorn, Fitzgerald, Rogers, Byrnes, Coffia, Bierlein, Meerman, BeGole, Schmaltz, Aragona, Wozniak, Bezotte, DeSana, Martus, Hoskins, Wilson, Shannon, Andrews, Tsernoglou, Scott, Grant, Roth, Glanville and VanderWall and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.

A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

"Public health code,"

by amending section 17801 (MCL 333.17801), as amended by 2009 PA 55, and by adding sections 17820a and 17820b.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 17801. (1) As used in this part:

(a) "Physical therapist" means an individual who is licensed under this article or authorized under section 17820a to engage in the practice of physical therapy.

(b) "Physical therapist assistant" means an individual with a health profession subfield license under this part, or is authorized under section 17820b to engage in practice as a physical therapist assistant under the supervision of a physical therapist, who assists a physical therapist in physical therapy intervention.

(c) "Physical therapy licensure compact" means the physical therapy licensure compact as enacted in section 16188.

(d) (c) "Practice as physical therapist assistant" means the practice of physical therapy performed under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed under this part.

(e) (d) "Practice of physical therapy" means the evaluation of, education of, consultation with, or treatment of an individual by the employment of effective properties of physical measures and the use of therapeutic exercises and rehabilitative procedures, with or without assistive devices, for the purpose of preventing, correcting, or alleviating a physical or mental disability. Physical therapy includes treatment planning, performance of tests and measurements, interpretation of referrals, initiation of referrals, instruction, consultative services, and supervision of personnel. Physical measures include massage, mobilization, heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, and sound. Practice of physical therapy does not include the identification of underlying medical problems or etiologies, establishment of medical diagnoses, or the prescribing of treatment.

(2) In addition to the definitions in this part, article 1 contains general definitions and principles of construction applicable to all articles in this code and part 161 contains definitions applicable to this part.

Sec. 17820a. (1) An individual who holds a compact privilege to practice as a physical therapist under the physical therapy licensure compact is authorized to engage in the practice of physical therapy under this article.

(2) For purposes of this article, including the obligations of an individual who is licensed as a physical therapist, an individual who holds a compact privilege to practice as a physical therapist under the physical therapy licensure compact is considered a physical therapist who is licensed under this part.

Sec. 17820b. (1) An individual who holds a compact privilege to work as a physical therapist assistant under the physical therapy licensure compact is authorized to engage in practice as a physical therapist assistant under this article under the supervision of a physical therapist.

(2) For purposes of this article, including the obligations of an individual who is licensed as a physical therapist assistant, an individual who holds a compact privilege to work as a physical therapist assistant under the physical therapy licensure compact is considered a physical therapist assistant who is licensed under this part.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4504 (request no. 02194'23) of the 102nd Legislature is enacted into law.