Bills · 2015-2016 Regular Session

AB 549

Became law Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the authority of physical therapists to order X-rays and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

Medical service Trades and occupations Traffic regulation

Introduced, completed
Passes Assembly, completed
Passes Senate, completed
Governor signs, completed
Law, completed

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill allows for X-rays to be ordered by physical therapists who satisfy

certain criteria.

Under current law, X-rays may generally only be performed if authorized

pursuant to a prescription or order issued by one of several types of licensed medical

professionals specified under current law. This bill adds licensed physical therapists

to this list of licensed medical professionals authorized to prescribe or order the use

of diagnostic X-ray equipment. The bill provides, however, that a licensed physical

therapist may only order X-rays if the physical therapist satisfies one of certain

conditions specified in the bill. In addition, the bill provides that the physical

therapist must, when ordering X-rays, communicate with the patient's primary care

physician or an appropriate health care provider to ensure coordination of care,

unless certain criteria that are specified in the bill apply.

What it would cost

Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs

Fiscal Estimate From DSPS

Votes

Assembly: Report passage recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 8, Noes 3

Passed 8–3 Feb 5, 2016 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

Passed 3–2 Mar 14, 2016 official source full page