Texas Physical Therapy Legislative Day 2023
February 28th, 2023 is our Texas Physical Therapy Legislative Day where hundreds of physical therapists will collectively gather at the Texas State Capitol to meet with the Texas State Legislature to advocate for improving access to and reducing the cost of physical therapy services to YOU. I will be meeting with the office of my Texas State Representative and Senator to promote this year’s agenda.
Here's how it works:
Texas Physical Therapy Legislative Day is a cool event where physical therapists from all over the state gather for a collective purpose. In the morning we all come together and discuss the legislation that has been written in this session related to physical therapy. Then, we break off into small groups and head to the Capitol to have meetings with legislators to chat with them about the bills we support in hopes that they will vote to pass them.
Before I explain this year’s agenda, check out this photo of me at the Capitol from 2019, the last time physical therapists were able to meet at the Capitol in person. During this session, we were finally able to increase direct access to allow physical therapists to start treatment without a referral. Texas was the 49th state to pass direct access legislation.
Here is what’s on the agenda for this session:
Senate Bill 584: Expansion of Direct Access
SB 584 by Sen. Bryan Hughes will expand direct access to physical therapy services to 30 days. This is an increase in the ability to directly access physical therapy services without a referral from the current number of 10-15 days. This means you are more likely to be able to complete your physical therapy plan of care without having to spend the extra time and cost to make an appointment with your physician for a referral. Texas is one of ONLY 9 states limiting direct access to less than 30 days.
House Bill 625: Fair Co-Pay
HB 625 by Rep. Cody Harris will allow physical therapists to be considered primary care providers for the purposes of insurance co-pay costs. Currently, physical therapists are considered “specialists” for insurance co-pays which are often much higher than primary care co-pay costs. However, this bill would allow you to pay a lower co-pay for physical therapy services with it being considered primary care. This reduces the financial barrier that may be in place for anyone in physical therapy. Despite this change, physical therapists are still considered specialists in the treatment of musculoskeletal and other associated conditions.
How can YOU help?
Here’s how you can help the cause whether you are a PT or not.
Use this link to find out who your specific Texas State Legislators are. You will have a State Senator and House Representative.
Email them and let them know you support Senate Bill 584 and House Bill 625 and that you would love it if they would pass this legislation. If you have a personal story about how physical therapy has helped you then include that. Let them know their constituents (YOU) care about these bills.
If you are a PT and didn’t get a chance to sign up for TX Legislative Day this year keep an eye out for the next session in 2025!
