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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing certain physical therapists to serve as a |
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treating doctor under the workers' compensation system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 401, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 401.015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 401.015. DEFINITION OF TREATING DOCTOR. (a) In this |
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subtitle, "treating doctor" means the health care practitioner who |
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is primarily responsible for the employee's health care for an |
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injury. A treating doctor must be: |
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(1) a doctor, as defined by Section 401.011(17); or |
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(2) notwithstanding any other law, a physical |
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therapist licensed under Chapter 453, Occupations Code, who is |
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described by Section 453.301(a) or (a-2) of that code. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 453.301, Occupations Code, a |
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physical therapist described by Subsection (a)(2) of this section |
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is not required to obtain a referral from another practitioner to |
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provide care as a treating doctor under this subtitle. |
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SECTION 2. Section 401.011(42), Labor Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to the provision of health care services to an injured employee by a |
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physical therapist on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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Health care services provided before that date are governed by the |
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law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |