3. What doctoral degrees qualify a PT to treat a patient without a referral for not more than 10 consecutive business days?
A PT whose entry-level degree is a doctoral from a CAPTE-accredited program qualifies to treat a patient without a referral for not more than 10 consecutive business days. Additionally, a PT with a postprofessional (transitional) DPT, a Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy, or a PhD in Physical Therapy qualifies as long as the program […]
2. How much professional liability insurance must a PT carry in order to treat patients without a referral?
A PT must have professional liability insurance before treating a patient without a referral effective September 1, 2019. The PT Board adopted a rule setting the amount of professional liability insurance coverage at $100,000/claim and $300,000/year
1. For how long must a PT be licensed before qualifying to provide treatment without referral?
A PT must have been licensed to practice physical therapy for at least one year in order to provide treatment without referral.
9. Is physical therapy services via telehealth reimbursable? What are the telehealth codes for billing?
The PT Practice Act/Rules do not address billing/coding/reimbursement, and licensure authorization does not guarantee that a payer source will reimburse for the telehealth services. You should contact your payer source(s) for clarification on billing/reimbursement of physical therapy services provided via telehealth.
8. Is FaceTime and non-encrypted video permissible at this time per PT rules and regulations?
Since the Office of Civil Rights(OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has temporarily relaxed the requirements for HIPAA compliant telehealth platforms, it would not be a violation of the PT Practice Act/Rules to use those platforms during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. More information on OCR enforcement discretion and HIPAA […]
7. Is there any special rules for supervising a PTA who is providing physical therapy services via telehealth?
No, PT Rules §322.5(d)(1) states that the PT or PTA is subject to the same standard of care that would apply to the provision of the same physical therapy service in an in-person setting. This includes the supervision of PTAs as set forth is PT Rules §322.3(b).
6. Does a reevaluation need to be performed to transition a patient’s physical therapy services to telehealth?
Transitioning the physical therapy services of a patient to telehealth is just a change in the delivery mode for the continuation of the episode of care and would not necessarily require a reevaluation.
5. Can an evaluation (reevaluation) be performed via telehealth?
The PT is responsible for determining whether an evaluation (reevaluation) or intervention may be conducted via telehealth or must be conducted in an in-person setting.
4. Can the informed consent be included in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for school-based physical therapy services or the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for Early Childhood Intervention physical therapy services?
Yes, if the parent/guardian understands that the informed consent covers physical therapy services provided via telehealth, this meets the intent of PT Rules §322.5(e).
3. Can the informed consent be obtained verbally?
Verbal consent is acceptable as long as you document that you are receiving verbal consent for patient/student name and the date the verbal consent is given. If the responsible party of the patient/student provides the consent, include the name and relationship to the patient/student in the documentation. The informed consent can be broad in nature […]