An Analysis of State Telehealth Laws and Regulations for Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy

Authors

  • Christine Calouro Center for Connected Health Policy
  • Mei Wa Kwong Center for Connected Health Policy
  • Mario Gutierrez Center for Connected Health Policy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2014.6141

Abstract

This study conducted a scan of telehealth physical and occupational therapy state laws and regulations. The laws and regulations were analyzed to determine the potential effect they could have on physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists’ (OTs) utilization of telehealth. The results indicate that the majority of physical and occupational therapy boards are silent on telehealth. A handful of physical therapy laws and regulations address “consultation by means of telecommunication,” but do not provide any guidance for PTs or OTs seeking to provide direct telehealth-delivered services to patients.  Of the few states that do provide guidance, policy had the potential to provide clarity, or inhibit adoption. The findings suggest that as state boards look at crafting telehealth regulation, they should do so in a way that facilitates, rather than hampers adoption, while upholding their providers to a high standard of care.

  

Author Biography

Mei Wa Kwong, Center for Connected Health Policy

J.D.

References

Alaska Administrative Code 12 AAC 54.530 (2008). Retrieved from http://commerce.alaska.gov/dnn/Portals/5/pub/PT-OTStatutes.pdf.

Alaska Administrative Code 12 AAC 54.825 (2008). Retrieved from http://commerce.alaska.gov/dnn/Portals/5/pub/PT-OTStatutes.pdf.

American Occupational Therapy Association (2013). Telehealth. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67(6), S69-S90.

American Physical Therapy Association (2009). Telehealth – definition and guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/About_Us/Policies/BOD/Practice/TelehealthDefinitionsGuidelines.pdf.

Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Practice Act, Arkansas Code § 17-93-102 (2009). Retrieved from http://www.arptb.org/pdf/Practice_Act_1109.pdf.

Center for Connected Health Policy (2013). State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies: A Comprehensive Scan of the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Retrieved from:

http://telehealthpolicy.us/sites/telehealthpolicy.us/files/uploader/50%20STATE%20MEDICAID%20REPORT%20MAR%202013.pdf

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Oregon Revised Statute, § 688.030 (2007). Retrieved from https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2013ors688.html

Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Practice Act (a), 63 Pennsylvania Statutes § 1302 (2008). Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=487748&mode=2

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Utah Physical Therapy Practice Act, Utah Code Annotated § 58-24b-102 (2009). Retrieved from http://le.utah.gov/code/TITLE58/htm/58_24b010200.htm

Washington Administrative Code, § 246-915-187 (2011). Retrieved from http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-915-187

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Published

2014-09-03

How to Cite

Calouro, C., Kwong, M. W., & Gutierrez, M. (2014). An Analysis of State Telehealth Laws and Regulations for Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 6(1), 17–24. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2014.6141

Issue

Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring 2014

Section

Policy

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