H-1044.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1996

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Dyer, Cody, Quall, Conway, Cole, Murray, Skinner, Cooke and Costa

Read first time 02/18/97.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Providing for referrals to physical therapists from licensed nurse practitioners.

    AN ACT Relating to referrals to physical therapists from licensed nurse practitioners; and amending RCW 18.74.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 18.74.010 and 1991 c 12 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

    (1) "Board" means the board of physical therapy created by RCW 18.74.020.

    (2) "Department" means the department of health.

    (3) "Physical therapy" means the treatment of any bodily or mental condition of any person by the use of the physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, and therapeutic exercise, which includes posture and rehabilitation procedures; the performance of tests and measurements of neuromuscular function as an aid to the diagnosis or treatment of any human condition; performance of treatments on the basis of test findings after consultation with and periodic review by an authorized health care practitioner except as provided in RCW 18.74.012; supervision of selective forms of treatment by trained supportive personnel; and provision of consultative services for health, education, and community agencies.  The use of Roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, the use of electricity for surgical purposes, including cauterization, and the use of spinal manipulation or manipulative mobilization of the spine and its immediate articulations, are not included under the term "physical therapy" as used in this chapter.

    (4) "Physical therapist" means a person who practices physical therapy as defined in this chapter but does not include massage operators as defined in RCW 18.108.010.

    (5) "Secretary" means the secretary of health.

    (6) Words importing the masculine gender may be applied to females.

    (7) "Authorized health care practitioner" means and includes licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, naturopaths, ((podiatrists, and)) podiatric physicians and surgeons, dentists, and advanced registered nurse practitioners:  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein shall be construed as altering the scope of practice of such practitioners as defined in their respective licensure laws.

                            --- END ---