Authorizes treatment of workers' compensation injuries by an occupational therapy assistant and a physical therapy assistant; directs certain records to be retained.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9462--A
IN SENATE
May 15, 2024
___________
Introduced by Sens. RAMOS, GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor -- commit-
tee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
mitted to said committee
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 1 of section 13-b of the workers' compensation
2 law is amended by adding two new paragraphs (p) and (q) to read as
3 follows:
4 (p) "Physical therapist assistant" shall mean licensed in accordance
5 with the education law and the licensing requirements of the commis-
6 sioner of education.
7 (q) "Occupational therapy assistant" shall mean licensed in accordance
8 with the education law and the licensing requirements of the commission-
9 er of education.
10 § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 13-b of the workers' compensation law is
11 amended by adding a new paragraph (b-1) to read as follows:
12 (b-1) Under the direction and supervision of an authorized occupa-
13 tional therapist, occupational therapy services may be rendered by an
14 occupational therapy assistant. Under the direction and supervision of
15 an authorized physical therapist, physical therapy services may be
16 rendered by a physical therapist assistant. Where any such care or
17 treatment is rendered, records of the patient's condition and progress,
18 together with records of instruction for treatment, if any, shall be
19 maintained by the physical therapist or occupational therapist and by
20 the referring physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, or nurse prac-
21 titioner. Said records shall be submitted to the chair on forms and at
22 such times as the chair may require.
23 § 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
24 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03223-05-4