Sunset Continue Physical Therapy Board Functions

Physical therapists - physical therapist assistants - continuation under sunset law - diagnoses - dry needling - rules - supervision of physical therapist assistants - professional development - grounds for discipline - wound debridement - physical therapy board - medical transparency act. The automatic termination date of the regulation of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants is extended until September 1, 2024, pursuant to provisions of the sunset law. The act implements changes to the "Physical Therapy Practice Act", including recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies in its sunset review and report, as follows:

• Clarifies that a physical therapist may make physical therapy diagnoses;
• Allows a physical therapist to perform dry needling if the physical therapist has the knowledge, skill, ability, and competency to perform the act; has completed a dry needling course; and obtains informed consent from the patient. The act also requires the physical therapy board to update rules that establish requirements for dry needling.
• Clarifies that a physical therapist's scope of practice includes the direct supervision of unlicensed physical therapists;
• Requires that physical therapy professional development activities must be measured by a contact-hour-to-credit-hour ratio;
• Adds as grounds for disciplinary action the failure to supervise physical therapist assistants and the failure to report an adverse action, the surrender of a license, or other discipline taken in another jurisdiction;
• Requires physical therapist assistants to maintain continuing professional competency to practice pursuant to the continuing professional competency program established by the physical therapy board by rule;
• Allows a physical therapist assistant to perform noninvasive wound debridement under the supervision of a physical therapist;
• Replaces a physical therapist member of the physical therapy board with a physical therapist assistant member;
• Removes physical therapists practicing in Colorado pursuant to the "Interstate Physical Therapy Licensure Compact Act" from the "Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act of 2010".
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)