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1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 808 By: Reinhardt
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to the practice of physical therapy;
7 amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 887.17, which relates
8 to referrals; clarifying certain exemption from
8 referral; updating statutory language; and providing
9 an effective date.
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12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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13 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 887.17, is
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14 amended to read as follows:
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15 Section 887.17. A. 1. Except for workers' compensation
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16 claims, any person licensed under the Physical Therapy Practice Act
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17 as a physical therapist shall be able to including, but not limited
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18 to, a licensed physical therapist operating under a direct-to-
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19 employer contract, may evaluate and treat human ailments by physical
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20 therapy on a patient without a referral from a licensed health care
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21 practitioner for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. Treatment
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22 may be provided by a physical therapist assistant under the
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23 supervision of a physical therapist. Any treatment provided beyond
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24 the thirty-day period shall be only under the referral of a person
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Req. No. 829 Page 1
1 licensed as a physician or surgeon with unlimited license, or the
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2 physician assistant of the person so licensed, and Doctors of
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3 Dentistry, Chiropractic and Podiatry doctors of dentistry,
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4 chiropractic, and podiatry and an Advanced Practice Registered
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5 Nurse, with those referrals being limited to their respective areas
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6 of training and practice.
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7 2. A physical therapist may provide services within the scope
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8 of physical therapy practice without a physician referral to
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9 children who receive physical therapy services pursuant to the
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10 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, as
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11 may be amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
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12 as may be amended. Provided further, a plan of care developed by a
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13 person authorized to provide services within the scope of the
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14 Physical Therapy Practice Act shall be deemed to be a prescription
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15 for purposes of providing services pursuant to the provisions of the
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16 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, as
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17 may be amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
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18 as may be amended.
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19 3. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall prevent a
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20 physical therapist from performing screening and educational
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21 procedures within the scope of physical therapy practice without a
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22 physician referral.
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23 4. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall prevent a
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24 physical therapist from performing services that are provided for
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1 the purpose of fitness, wellness, or prevention that is not related
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2 to the treatment of an injury or ailment.
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3 5. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall be
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4 construed as authorization for a physical therapist or physical
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5 therapist assistant to practice any branch of the healing art.
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6 6. Any person violating the provisions of the Physical Therapy
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7 Practice Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor as per Section 887.16
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8 of this title.
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9 B. 1. The provisions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act are
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10 not intended to limit the activities of persons legitimately engaged
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11 in the nontherapeutic administration of baths, massage, and normal
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12 exercise.
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13 2. The Physical Therapy Practice Act shall not prohibit
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14 students who are enrolled in schools of physical therapy approved by
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15 the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision from performing
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16 such work as is incidental to their course of study; nor shall it
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17 prevent any student in any recognized school of the healing art in
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18 carrying out prescribed courses of study;, provided such school is a
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19 recognized institution by the statutes of Oklahoma Statutes, and its
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20 practitioners are duly licensed as prescribed by law.
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21 3. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall apply to
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22 any person employed by an agency, bureau, or division of the federal
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23 government while in the discharge of official duties; however, if
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24 such individual engages in the practice of physical therapy outside
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1 the line of official duty, the individual must be licensed as herein
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2 provided.
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3 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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5 60-1-829 DC 1/19/2025 5:43:46 AM
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Req. No. 829 Page 4Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.