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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 13, 2019 12:07 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas P. Murt |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Add "Licensed Physical Therapist" as a Health Care Provider (Title 75) |
| I plan on introducing legislation that would add “licensed physical therapist” to the list of health care providers that are able to certify a person’s condition for the “person with disability parking placard,” “severely disabled veteran placard,” and registration of special plates. This bill would amend Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. Section 7122, under (c) Health care provider’s statement to add “licensed physical therapist.” Currently, a “health care provider is defined as a physician, chiropractor, optometrist, podiatrist, physician's assistant, or a certified registered nurse practitioner licensed or certified to practice in this commonwealth or in a contiguous state.” By adding physical therapists to the certified list of health care providers, individuals will be able to be evaluated and have their eligibility determined by this professionally licensed provider. Physical Therapists assist individuals in improving movement, treating and preventing injury, as well as managing pain. According to the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Practice Act, Section 2, “Physical Therapy (1) [is] The evaluation, examination and testing of individuals with mechanical, physiological and developmental impairments, functional limitations and disabilities, other health-related or movement-related conditions, performed to determine a diagnosis, prognosis and plan of treatment intervention within the scope of this act or to assess the ongoing effects of intervention.” This legislation would grant licensed physical therapists the ability to authorize and certify disabilities within their scope of practice. Adding, “licensed physical therapists” will provide a person the ability to go to a trusted member of their health care team and apply for the respective parking placard/plate. It is my hope that this bill will provide individuals with a disability and disabled veterans the opportunity to discuss their eligibility with a licensed physical therapist and have this certified health care provider sign off to indicate their need for this placard/plate. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as HB1969