NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A1204
SPONSOR: Zebrowski
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to authoriz-
ing treatment of workers' compensation injuries by an occupational ther-
apy assistant or physical therapy assistant
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill allows occupational therapist assistants to provide care to
workers' compensation patients.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section
13-h of the workers' compensation law as it relates to allowing occupa-
tional therapy assistants to provide care to workers' compensation
Section two of the bill relates to the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Occupational therapy assistants provide a valuable service. They prac-
tice under the direction and supervision of a licensed occupational
therapist or licensed physician and most meet stringent educational and
experience requirements in order to be licensed by the State Education
Department. Unfortunately, workers' compensation patients cannot receive
care from an occupational therapy assistant. This bill would allow
workers' compensation patients to receive care from an occupational
therapy assistant that is licensed by the State Education Department.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.1055 of 2021-22,
A.3753-B of 2019-20,
A.1396-B of 2017-18,
A.1670 of 2015-16,
A.7980 of 2013-2014.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall become
law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1204
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI, WEPRIN, COLTON, BENEDETTO, STECK,
STIRPE, THIELE, DICKENS, SEAWRIGHT, GANDOLFO, BRABENEC, CARROLL,
SIMON, LUNSFORD, JACOBSON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. McDONOUGH
-- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to authoriz-
ing treatment of workers' compensation injuries by an occupational
therapy assistant or physical therapy assistant
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 13-b of the workers' compensation
2 law is amended by adding a new paragraph (b-1) to read as follows:
3 (b-1) Under the direct supervision of an authorized occupational ther-
4 apist, occupational therapy services may be rendered by an occupational
5 therapy assistant. Under the direct supervision of an authorized phys-
6 ical therapist, physical therapy services may be rendered by a physical
7 therapist assistant. This supervision shall be evidenced by signed
8 records of instructions for treatment and signed records of the
9 patient's condition and progress. Reports of such treatment and super-
10 vision shall be made by such provider to the chair in the format
11 prescribed by the chair at such times as the chair may require.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
13 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03223-01-3