Therapy Comply California Therapy Compliance Updates

California Physical Therapy Compliance Guides

Zachary Edgar — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 19:23:18 GMT

We have overhauled and updated our Physical Therapy Compliance Guides.

California Medicaid Fee Schedules Updates

Zachary Edgar — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 18:56:18 GMT

See California Medicaid Therapy Fee Schedules for more information.

Amened PT Rule: Clinical Service Requirements for Foreign Educated Applicants

Zachary Edgar — Tue, 09 May 2023 19:24:53 GMT

Amends section 1398.26.5 of Article 2 of Division 13.2, Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR).

CCR Section 1398.26.5 requires applicants who are graduates of non-accredited physical therapy education programs that are not located in the United States to demonstrate clinical competence through a period of clinical service supervised by a licensed physical therapist. Subsections (a) and (c) specify that at least one supervising physical therapist be the Center Coordinator of Clinical Education (CCCE) and/or the Clinical Instructor (CI), as defined by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Subsection (d) requires that the CCCE and/or the CI report the clinical service evaluation of the physical therapist applicant on the Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) issued by the APTA.

The amendments to CCR Section 1398.26.5 allows for use of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy’s (FSBPT) Supervised Clinical Practice Performance Evaluation Tool (PET), as an alternative to use of the APTA’s CPI. Additionally, the amendments make non-substantive changes such as replacing the word “credentialed” for “certified” in reference to the CI. This is consistent with APTA’s terminology and adds clarity to the regulation, since it eliminates confusion between the clinical service being certified and the CI’s being certified. This regulation also corrects a typographical error in subsection (d) by replacing the word “elevations” with “evaluations.”

SLP Regulatory Change: Notice to Consumers

Zachary Edgar — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 22:17:25 GMT

The Legislature enacted Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 138 which requires every board in the Department of Consumer Affairs to adopt regulations to require licensees to provide notice to their clients or patients that the licensee is licensed by this state.

This regulatory change implements, interprets, and makes specific the provisions of BPC section 138 to ensure that consumers are aware that individuals engaged in the practices of speech-language pathology, audiology, or hearing aid dispensing are licensed by this Board and on how they can contact the Board.

These approved regulations specify the method of transmission and content of that notice.

You can download a courtesy copy of this notice by clicking on the link below.

For additional information, the regulatory documents can be found below.

Notice to Consumers

Effective Date of Regulation: April 1, 2023

This approved regulation adopts section 1399.129 of Article 5 of Division 13.3 and section 1399.157.1 of Article 8 of Division 13.4 of Title 16, California Code of Regulations.

Notice of Proposed Changes
Proposed Language
Initial Statement of Reasons
Notice of Modified Text
Modified Text of Regulations
Final Statement of Reasons
Order of Adoption (Filed with Secretary of State: 2/6/2023)

SLP Regulation Change: Uniform Standards Regarding Substance Abuse

Zachary Edgar — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 22:16:22 GMT

Substance abuse is an increasing problem in the health care professions, where the impairment of a health care practitioner for even one moment can mean irreparable harm to a patient. The Legislature enacted Business and Professions Code section 315, which established in the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) the Substance Abuse Coordination Committee for the purpose of determining uniform standards that will be used by boards in dealing with substance-abusing licensees.

This regulatory change adopts regulations regarding the discipline of substance-abusing licensees and incorporates by reference DCA's uniform standards document for the Board to use. These approved regulations will enhance the Board’s mission to protect the public by providing the Board with consistent standards in dealing with substance-abusing licensees.

For additional information, the regulatory documents can be found below.

Uniform Standards

Effective Date of Regulation: April 1, 2023

This approved regulation amends sections 1399.102 and 1399.131 and adopts section 1399.131.1 to Division 13.3; and amends section 1399.155 and adopts section 1399.155.1 to Division 13.4, of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.

· Notice of Proposed Changes

· Proposed Language

· DCA Uniform Standards Regarding Substance-Abusing Healing Arts Licensees, March 2019

· Initial Statement of Reasons

· Final Statement of Reasons

· Order of Adoption (Filed with Secretary of State: 2/13/2023)

SLP Regulation Change: Required Professional Experience Direct Supervision Requirements and Tele-Supervision

Zachary Edgar — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 22:15:47 GMT

This regulatory change allows for the tele-supervision of RPE temporary licensees for up to half of the required monthly supervision hours under specified circumstances. Specifically, “direct supervision” is defined as in person, one-on-one audiovisual observation, and guidance as needed by the RPE supervisor of activities related to the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology. “Tele-supervision” is defined as synchronous, one-on-one audiovisual observation, and guidance as needed through electronic audio and video monitoring by the RPE supervisor of activities related to the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology while care is being provided to the patient.

This regulatory change provides clarity regarding when and to what degree tele-supervision can be utilized to meet the monthly supervision requirements for RPE temporary licensees. Allowing tele-supervision for up to half of the required monthly supervision hours will allow RPE temporary licensees and their supervisors greater flexibility in meeting this requirement. This regulation also protects the consumer by requiring an RPE supervisor to inform the patient about the use of tele-supervision and obtain verbal or written consent from the patient, while also ensuring an adequately trained workforce.

For additional information, the regulatory documents can be found below.

Required Professional Experience Direct Supervision Requirements and Tele-Supervision Regulations

Effective Date of Regulation: April 1, 2023

This approved regulation amends sections 1399.153 and 1399.153.3 of Article 4 of Division 13.4 of Title 16, California Code of Regulations.

SLP State Change: Licenses, military service

Zachary Edgar — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 22:18:25 GMT

Status: Chapter 386, Statutes of 2022

Bill Summary: This bill expands the requirement that boards waive renewal fees and continuing education requirements to include individuals on duty in the California National Guard or on active duty in the United States Armed Forces.

Impact on Applicants: Board licensees on duty in the California National Guard or on active duty in the United States Armed Forces can renew their license without paying renewal fees or completing the continuing education requirements.

New PT Regulation and Amendment: Retired License and Fees

Zachary Edgar — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:30:51 GMT

Adds Section 1398.18 to new Article 1.5 and amends sections 1399.50 and 1399.52 of Article 10 of Division 13.2 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR).

This regulation establishes minimum eligibility requirements to enter into retired license as well as defines requirements for restoring a license to an active status should a licensee with a retired license choose. These regulations will also incorporate by reference the application to enter retired license (RS1 (NEW 09/2021)) and the application to restore a retired license into active status (RS2 (NEW 09/2021)). Additionally, this rulemaking amends sections 1399.50 and 1399.52 to set a one-time $100 application fee to enter into retired license.

Amended PT Rule: Satisfactory Documentary Evidence of Equivalent Foreign Education for Licensure as a Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant

Zachary Edgar — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:25:46 GMT

Amends section 1398.26.1 of Article 2 of Division 13.2, Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR).

This regulation include tools for evaluating current education equivalency of those graduates from a non-accredited foreign physical therapy program and authorizes the Board to accept Coursework Tool (CWT) 6, in lieu of the corresponding CWT 1-5, and authorizes the Board to accept the Coursework Tool for Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA Tool 2) for all years of graduation from non-accredited foreign schools.

Amended PT Regulation: Disciplinary Guidelines

Zachary Edgar — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 19:31:41 GMT

The amendment to Section 1399.15 of the California Code of Regulations incorporates by reference The Physical Therapy Board’s (PTBC) Disciplinary Guidelines (6th Edition- Revised September 2020). The PTBC uses the Disciplinary Guidelines for Issuing Citations and Imposing Discipline. The PTBC made several changes to the 6th Edition Disciplinary Guidelines, to reflect regulatory changes already adopted. Additionally, a requirement was added to the Disciplinary Guidelines to inform probationers that their license will not be renewed if they do not pay probation monitoring costs. An option to reduce these cost recovery fees was removed and instead the PTBC is offering the possibility of a payment plan requiring payment 180 days prior to completing probation. Substance abuse rehabilitation program fees were removed and the PTBC also added an additional specific condition of probation, entitled “Notification of Probation Status to Assistive Personnel” and made several non-substantive changes to the Disciplinary Guidelines.