Public Act 1010 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2382 Enrolled LRB093 16068 AMC 41694 b

Public Act 093-1010

AN ACT concerning professional regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Physical Therapy Act is amended by changing Sections 1, 2, 16.5, 17, 31, and 32.2 as follows:

(225 ILCS 90/1) (from Ch. 111, par. 4251)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)

Sec. 1. Definitions. As used in this Act:

(1) "Physical therapy" means the evaluation or treatment of a person by the use of the effective properties of physical measures and heat, cold, light, water, radiant energy, electricity, sound, and air; and the use of therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercise, mobilization, and the rehabilitative procedures with or without assistive devices for the purposes of preventing, correcting, or alleviating a physical or mental disability, or promoting physical fitness and well-being. Physical therapy includes, but is not limited to: (a) performance of specialized tests and measurements, (b) administration of specialized treatment procedures, (c) interpretation of referrals from physicians, dentists, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and podiatrists, (d) establishment, and modification of physical therapy treatment programs, (e) administration of topical medication used in generally accepted physical therapy procedures when such medication is prescribed by the patient's physician, licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, the patient's physician licensed to practice podiatric medicine, the patient's advanced practice nurse, the patient's physician assistant, or the patient's dentist, and (f) supervision or teaching of physical therapy. Physical therapy does not include radiology, electrosurgery, chiropractic technique or determination of a differential diagnosis; provided, however, the limitation on determining a differential diagnosis shall not in any manner limit a physical therapist licensed under this Act from performing an evaluation pursuant to such license. Nothing in this Section shall limit a physical therapist from employing appropriate physical therapy techniques that he or she is educated and licensed to perform. A physical therapist shall refer to a licensed physician, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, dentist, or podiatrist any patient whose medical condition should, at the time of evaluation or treatment, be determined to be beyond the scope of practice of the physical therapist.

(2) "Physical therapist" means a person who practices physical therapy and who has met all requirements as provided in this Act.

(3) "Department" means the Department of Professional Regulation.

(4) "Director" means the Director of Professional Regulation.

(5) "Committee" means the Physical Therapy Examining Committee approved by the Director.

(6) "Referral" means a written or oral authorization for physical therapy services for a patient by a physician, dentist, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or podiatrist who maintains medical supervision of the patient and makes a diagnosis or verifies that the patient's condition is such that it may be treated by a physical therapist for the purpose of this Act means the following of guidance or direction to the physical therapist given by the physician, dentist, or podiatrist who shall maintain supervision of the patient.

(7) "Documented current and relevant diagnosis" for the purpose of this Act means a diagnosis, substantiated by signature or oral verification of a physician, dentist, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or podiatrist, that a patient's condition is such that it may be treated by physical therapy as defined in this Act, which diagnosis shall remain in effect until changed by the physician, dentist, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or podiatrist.

(8) "State" includes:

(a) the states of the United States of America;

(b) the District of Columbia; and

(c) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(9) "Physical therapist assistant" means a person licensed to assist a physical therapist and who has met all requirements as provided in this Act and who works under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist to assist in implementing the physical therapy treatment program as established by the licensed physical therapist. The patient care activities provided by the physical therapist assistant shall not include the interpretation of referrals, evaluation procedures, or the planning or major modification of patient programs.

(10) "Physical therapy aide" means a person who has received on the job training, specific to the facility in which he is employed, but who has not completed an approved physical therapist assistant program.

(11) "Advanced practice nurse" means a person licensed under the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act who has a collaborative agreement with a collaborating physician that authorizes referrals to physical therapists.

(12) "Physician assistant" means a person licensed under the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987 who has been delegated authority to make referrals to physical therapists.

(Source: P.A. 92-651, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 90/2) (from Ch. 111, par. 4252)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)

Sec. 2. Licensure requirement; exempt activities. Practice without a license forbidden - exception. No person shall after the date of August 31, 1965 begin to practice physical therapy in this State or hold himself out as being able to practice this profession, unless he is licensed as such in accordance with the provisions of this Act. After the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1990, no person shall practice or hold himself out as a physical therapist assistant unless he is licensed as such under this Act. A physical therapist shall use the initials "PT" in connection with his or her name to denote licensure under this Act, and a physical therapist assistant shall use the initials "PTA" in connection with his or her name to denote licensure under this Act.

This Act does not prohibit:

(1) Any person licensed in this State under any other Act from engaging in the practice for which he is licensed.

(2) The practice of physical therapy by those persons, practicing under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and who have met all of the qualifications as provided in Sections 7, 8.1, and 9 of this Act, until the next examination is given for physical therapists or physical therapist assistants and the results have been received by the Department and the Department has determined the applicant's eligibility for a license. Anyone failing to pass said examination shall not again practice physical therapy until such time as an examination has been successfully passed by such person.

(3) The practice of physical therapy for a period not exceeding 6 months by a person who is in this State on a temporary basis to assist in a case of medical emergency or to engage in a special physical therapy project, and who meets the qualifications for a physical therapist as set forth in Sections 7 and 8 of this Act and is licensed in another state as a physical therapist.

(4) Practice of physical therapy by qualified persons who have filed for endorsement for no longer than one year or until such time that notification of licensure has been granted or denied, whichever period of time is lesser.

(5) One or more licensed physical therapists from forming a professional service corporation under the provisions of the "Professional Service Corporation Act", approved September 15, 1969, as now or hereafter amended, and licensing such corporation for the practice of physical therapy.

(6) Physical therapy aides from performing patient care activities under the on-site supervision of a licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant. These patient care activities shall not include interpretation of referrals, evaluation procedures, the planning of or major modifications of, patient programs.

(7) Physical Therapist Assistants from performing patient care activities under the general supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The physical therapist must maintain continual contact with the physical therapist assistant including periodic personal supervision and instruction to insure the safety and welfare of the patient.

(8) The practice of physical therapy by a physical therapy student or a physical therapist assistant student under the on-site supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The physical therapist shall be readily available for direct supervision and instruction to insure the safety and welfare of the patient.

(9) The practice of physical therapy as part of an educational program by a physical therapist licensed in another state or country for a period not to exceed 6 months.

(Source: P.A. 90-580, eff. 5-21-98.)

(225 ILCS 90/16.5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)

Sec. 16.5. Advertising services.

(a) A licensee shall include in every advertisement for services regulated under this Act his or her title as it appears on the license or the initials authorized under this Act.

(b) It is unlawful for any person licensed under this Act to use testimonials or claims of superior quality of care to entice the public. It shall be unlawful to advertise fee comparisons of available services with those of other persons licensed under this Act.

(c) This Act does not authorize the advertising of professional services that the offeror of such services is not licensed to render. Nor shall the advertiser use statements that contain false, fraudulent, deceptive or misleading material or guarantees of success, play upon the vanity or fears of the public, or promote or produce unfair competition.

(d) It is unlawful and punishable under Section 31 for any person licensed under this Act to knowingly advertise that the licensee will accept as payment for services rendered by assignment from any third-party payor the amount the third-party payor covers as payment in full, if the effect is to give the impression of eliminating the need of payment by the patient of any required deductible or copayment applicable in the patient's health benefit plan.

(e) As used in this Section, "advertise" means solicitation by the licensee or through another by means of handbills, posters, circulars, motion pictures, radio, newspapers, or television or in any other manner.

(Source: P.A. 91-310, eff. 1-1-00.)

(225 ILCS 90/17) (from Ch. 111, par. 4267)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)

Sec. 17. (1) The Department may refuse to issue or to renew, or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, or take other disciplinary action as the Department deems appropriate, including the issuance of fines not to exceed $5000, with regard to a license for any one or a combination of the following:

A. Material misstatement in furnishing information to the Department or otherwise making misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in violation of this Act or otherwise in the practice of the profession;

B. Violations of this Act, or of the rules or regulations promulgated hereunder;

C. Conviction of any crime under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof which is a felony or which is a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is dishonesty, or of any crime which is directly related to the practice of the profession; conviction, as used in this paragraph, shall include a finding or verdict of guilty, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere;

D. Making any misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining licenses, or violating any provision of this Act or the rules promulgated thereunder pertaining to advertising;

E. A pattern of practice or other behavior which demonstrates incapacity or incompetency to practice under this Act;

F. Aiding or assisting another person in violating any provision of this Act or Rules;

G. Failing, within 60 days, to provide information in response to a written request made by the Department;

H. Engaging in dishonorable, unethical or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public. Unprofessional conduct shall include any departure from or the failure to conform to the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing physical therapy practice, in which proceeding actual injury to a patient need not be established;

I. Unlawful distribution of any drug or narcotic, or unlawful conversion of any drug or narcotic not belonging to the person for such person's own use or benefit or for other than medically accepted therapeutic purposes;

J. Habitual or excessive use or addiction to alcohol, narcotics, stimulants, or any other chemical agent or drug which results in a physical therapist's or physical therapist assistant's inability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill or safety;

K. Revocation or suspension of a license to practice physical therapy as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant or the taking of other disciplinary action by the proper licensing authority of another state, territory or country;

L. Directly or indirectly giving to or receiving from any person, firm, corporation, partnership or association any fee, commission, rebate or other form of compensation for any professional services not actually or personally rendered. Nothing contained in this paragraph prohibits persons holding valid and current licenses under this Act from practicing physical therapy in partnership under a partnership agreement, including a limited liability partnership, a limited liability company, or a corporation under the Professional Service Corporation Act or from pooling, sharing, dividing, or apportioning the fees and monies received by them or by the partnership, company, or corporation in accordance with the partnership agreement or the policies of the company or professional corporation;

M. A finding by the Committee that the licensee after having his or her license placed on probationary status has violated the terms of probation;

N. Abandonment of a patient;

O. Willfully failing to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act;

P. Willfully failing to report an instance of suspected elder abuse or neglect as required by the Elder Abuse Reporting Act;

Q. Physical illness, including but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process, or loss of motor skill which results in the inability to practice the profession with reasonable judgement, skill or safety;

R. The use of any words (such as physical therapy, physical therapist physiotherapy or physiotherapist), abbreviations, figures or letters with the intention of indicating practice as a licensed physical therapist without a valid license as a physical therapist issued under this Act;

S. The use of the term physical therapist assistant, or abbreviations, figures, or letters with the intention of indicating practice as a physical therapist assistant without a valid license as a physical therapist assistant issued under this Act;

T. Willfully violating or knowingly assisting in the violation of any law of this State relating to the practice of abortion;

U. Continued practice by a person knowingly having an infectious, communicable or contagious disease;

V. Having treated ailments of human beings otherwise than by the practice of physical therapy as defined in this Act, or having treated ailments of human beings as a licensed physical therapist independent of a documented referral or a documented current and relevant diagnosis from a physician, dentist, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or podiatrist, or having failed to notify the physician, dentist, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or podiatrist who established a documented current and relevant diagnosis that the patient is receiving physical therapy pursuant to that diagnosis;

W. Being named as a perpetrator in an indicated report by the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and upon proof by clear and convincing evidence that the licensee has caused a child to be an abused child or neglected child as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act;

X. Interpretation of referrals, performance of evaluation procedures, planning or making major modifications of patient programs by a physical therapist assistant;

Y. Failure by a physical therapist assistant and supervising physical therapist to maintain continued contact, including periodic personal supervision and instruction, to insure safety and welfare of patients;

Z. Violation of the Health Care Worker Self-Referral Act.

(2) The determination by a circuit court that a licensee is subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code operates as an automatic suspension. Such suspension will end only upon a finding by a court that the patient is no longer subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission and the issuance of an order so finding and discharging the patient; and upon the recommendation of the Committee to the Director that the licensee be allowed to resume his practice.

(3) The Department may refuse to issue or may suspend the license of any person who fails to file a return, or to pay the tax, penalty or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or interest, as required by any tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue, until such time as the requirements of any such tax Act are satisfied.

(Source: P.A. 89-387, eff. 1-1-96.)

(225 ILCS 90/31) (from Ch. 111, par. 4281)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)

Sec. 31. Violations.

(a) Any person who is found to have violated any provision of this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 4 felony for the second and any subsequent offense.

(b) Any person representing himself or herself or advertising as a physical therapist or that the services he or she renders are physical therapy services, or who uses any words, such as physical therapy, physical therapist, physiotherapy, or physiotherapist, abbreviations, figures, or letters, such as "PT", "DPT", "MPT", "RPT", "LPT", or "PTA", with the intention of indicating that he or she is engaged in the practice of physical therapy as a licensed physical therapist, when he or she does not possess a currently valid license as defined herein, commits a Class A misdemeanor, for a first offense, and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense.

(c) Any person representing himself or herself or advertising as a physical therapist assistant or that the services he or she renders are physical therapy services, or who uses any words, such as physical therapy or physical therapist assistant, or uses abbreviations, figures, or letters, such as "PT", "DPT", "MPT", "RPT", "LPT", or "PTA", with the intention of indicating that he or she is engaged in the practice of physical therapy as a physical therapist assistant, when he or she does not possess a currently valid license as defined herein, commits a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense, and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense.

(Source: P.A. 85-342; 86-1396.)

(225 ILCS 90/32.2)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)

Sec. 32.2. Unlicensed practice; violation; civil penalty.

(a) Any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds oneself out to practice physical therapy or as a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant without being licensed under this Act or who violates Section 16.5 or subsection (b) or (c) of Section 31 shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, pay a civil penalty to the Department in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each offense as determined by the Department. The civil penalty shall be assessed by the Department after a hearing is held in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Act regarding the provision of a hearing for the discipline of a licensee.

(b) The Department has the authority and power to investigate any and all unlicensed activity.

(c) The civil penalty shall be paid within 60 days after the effective date of the order imposing the civil penalty. The order shall constitute a judgment and may be filed and execution had thereon in the same manner as any judgment from any court of record.

(Source: P.A. 89-387, eff. 1-1-96.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/24/2004