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Oregon PT Direct Access

As a result of legislative changes effective January 1, 2014, a physical therapist is no longer required to limit treatment of a self-referred patient to sixty (60) days before having to refer the patient to a provider.

A physical therapist may initiate and provide physical therapy to a patient who is either self-referred or referred by a “provider of care”, defined as a medical doctor, osteopathic physician, chiropractic physician, podiatric physician and surgeon, naturopathic physician, dentist, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, as follows:

    • The therapist shall treat a self-referred patient in accordance with an initial evaluation and treatment plan prepared by a physical therapist and shall treat a patient who is referred by a provider of care pursuant to the written or oral referral or authorization received from the provider. As used in this rule, the term “authorization” includes certification by a provider of care of the physical therapist’s plan of care of a Medicare patient.
    •  If the referral or authorization specifies or identifies specific physical therapy interventions, precautions or contraindications for therapy, physical therapy shall not be provided beyond those specifications or limitations without further authorization.
    • If a patient who is being treated pursuant to a referral or authorization from a provider of care requests treatment for a diagnosis or condition that is different and separate from the diagnosis or condition that is the subject of the referral, the physical therapist may initiate and provide treatment either in accordance with an initial evaluation and treatment plan prepared by a physical therapist or pursuant to an additional written or oral referral or authorization received from a provider listed in this section.
    • If a referral or authorization specifies the number of treatments or a duration of treatment, the physical therapist may treat the patient for that duration and may extend treatment for a reasonable period of time if necessary for the patient to receive all authorized treatments.

A physical therapist shall immediately refer a patient to a provider of care if the patient exhibits symptoms:

    • That require treatment or diagnosis by a provider of medical care;
    • For which physical therapy is contraindicated;
    • For which the treatment is outside that therapist’s knowledge, skill and abilities; or
    • For which treatment is outside the scope of practice of physical therapy.

A licensed physical therapist shall immediately refer a person being treated by the licensed physical therapist to a provider of care if the person exhibits symptoms:

    • That require treatment or diagnosis by a provider of medical care;
    • For which physical therapy is contraindicated;
    • That the physical therapist does not know how to treat; or
    • For which treatment is outside the scope of practice of physical therapy.

Citation

OAR 848-040-0117

ORS 688.132


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