SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1082
As of March 9, 2023
Title: An act relating to expanding opportunities for physical therapy and occupational therapy professionals to form professional service corporations.
Brief Description: Expanding opportunities for physical therapy and occupational therapy professionals to form professional service corporations.
Sponsors: Representatives Simmons, Jacobsen, Goodman, Springer, Santos and Ormsby.
Brief History: Passed House: 1/25/23, 96-0.
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 3/10/23.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Permits physical therapists and occupational therapists to share an ownership interest in a health care practice with other health care professionals, rather than only within their scope of practice.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Staff: Julie Tran (786-7283)
Background:

Professional service corporations are a corporate structure under state law which is comprised of a specific group of professionals, and only those who are licensed to practice the same profession may be owners of the professional service corporation.  In Washington, professionals licensed to provide a particular health care service may form and practice through a professional health service corporation or professional limited liability company.  A group of professionals licensed to practice a number of different health care services may combine to form and practice their services through a single professional service corporation or professional limited liability company.  However, they may engage only in the health care services for which they are licensed. 
 
Occupational therapists and physical therapists are licensed by the Department of Health to provide occupational therapy and physical therapy, respectively.  These professions are authorized to own stock in and jointly form or practice through a single professional service corporation or professional limited liability company for the sole purpose of providing professional services within their respective scope of practice.  Physical therapists and occupational therapists are not permitted to join a professional service corporation with other health care professionals. 

 

The other health care professionals include those individuals licensed as: acupuncturists, acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioners, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers, podiatric physicians, podiatric surgeons, chiropractors, dental hygienists, dispensing opticians, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, hearing aid specialists, midwives, naturopaths, optometrists, ocularists, osteopathic physician, osteopathic surgeon, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, psychologists, respiratory care practitioners, massage therapists, dietitians, and nutritionists.
Summary of Bill:

Physical therapists and occupational therapists may own stock in, and render their individual professional services through, a professional service corporation with other health care professionals. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.