2020 Legislation:

Bills Impacting Physical Therapy:

HB 467: Physical Therapy Practice, Effective 7/1/20

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2020/467/BillText/er/PDF

This bill modernizes the definitions of “physical therapy assessment” and the “practice of physical therapy” to reflect current practice and authorizes the Board of Physical Therapy Practice to adopt rules related to the standards of practice for physical therapists (PT) to perform dry needling. The bill establishes minimum experience, education, and training requirements for PTs who perform dry needling.

HB 713: Department of Health, Effective 7/1/20

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2020/713/BillText/er/PDF

The bill amends numerous practice acts to streamline regulation and increase efficiency. The bill makes numerous updates and changes to programs and health care professions regulated under the boards and Department of Health (DOH).

Repeals a health care practitioner’s failure to repay student loans as grounds for discipline by the DOH.

HB 115: Keep Our Graduates Working Act, Effective 7/1/20

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2020/115/BillText/er/PDF

• The bill prohibits the Department of Health (DOH) from denying the issuance of, refusing to renew, suspending, or revoking a professional license based solely on the licensee being delinquent on a payment of or defaulting on his or her student loans. The bill removes the specific provision allowing DOH to discipline a health care practitioner for failing to repay a student loan and the associated mandatory discipline. The bill repeals the requirement that DOH must issue an emergency order suspending a health care practitioner’s license for a student loan default, absent timely proof of a new repayment plan. Additionally, the bill repeals the requirement that DOH must obtain a monthly list from the United States Health and Human Services (USHHS) of the health care practitioners who have defaulted on their student loans.