HB 24-1327

House Bill 24-1327, which has been approved by the governor and will take effect on August 7, 2024, extends the regulation of physical therapists and their assistants until September 1, 2035. It allows physical therapists to recommend and prescribe durable medical equipment for patients without needing a doctor's prescription. Additionally, it updates the scope of practice for physical therapists to include wound debridement under orders from an advanced practice nurse, as well as reviewing a patient’s medication regimen. This bill affects physical therapists and their clients in Colorado by expanding the services that therapists can provide directly to patients.

Official Summary

The act continues the regulation of physical therapists and physical therapy assistants until September 1, 2035. The act also authorizes physical therapists to recommend and prescribe durable medical equipment to patients without a prescription from a physician. The act updates the definition of the practice of "physical therapy" to include wound debridement and also adds to the definition the ongoing review, integration, and understanding of a patient's or client's prescription and nonprescription medication regimen. The act also updates the titles and abbreviations that only a person licensed as a physical therapist or a physical therapy student may use. Currently, a physical therapist is authorized to perform wound debridement under the order of a physician or a physician's assistant. The act authorizes physical therapists to perform wound debridement under the order of an advanced practice nurse. The act clarifies that a physical therapist assistant may not perform sharp wound debridement, but may perform general wound care and nonsharp debridement. The act changes the term "foreign-trained" in reference to internationally educated applicants for licensure to instead describe an applicant who is educated by a program that is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education or a comparable organization. APPROVED by Governor June 5, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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