Sec. 453.301.  PRACTICE BY PHYSICAL THERAPIST.  (a)  A physical therapist may treat a patient for an injury or condition in a manner described by Section 453.005 without a referral if the physical therapist:
(1)  has been licensed to practice physical therapy for at least one year;
(2)  is covered by professional liability insurance in the minimum amount required by board rule; and
(3)  either:
(A)  possesses a doctoral degree in physical therapy from:
(i)  a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; or
(ii)  an institution that is accredited by an agency or association recognized by the United States secretary of education; or
(B)  has completed at least 30 hours of continuing competence activities in the area of differential diagnosis.
(a-1)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), a physical therapist may treat a patient under Subsection (a) for not more than 10 consecutive business days.
(a-2)  A physical therapist may treat a patient under Subsection (a) for not more than 15 consecutive business days if the physical therapist:
(1)  possesses a doctoral degree described by Subsection (a)(3)(A); and
(2)  either:
(A)  has completed a residency or fellowship; or
(B)  is certified by an entity approved by the board.
(b)  The physical therapist must obtain a referral from a referring practitioner before the physical therapist may continue treatment that exceeds treatment authorized under Subsection (a-1) or (a-2), as applicable.
(c)  A physical therapist who treats a patient without a referral shall obtain from the patient a signed disclosure on a form prescribed by the board in which the patient acknowledges that:
(1)  physical therapy is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis by a physician;
(2)  physical therapy is not based on radiological imaging;
(3)  a physical therapist cannot diagnose an illness or disease; and
(4)  the patient's health insurance may not include coverage for the physical therapist's services.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by: 
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1021 (H.B. 29), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 140 (H.B. 1363), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.