2001 WISCONSIN ACT 70
An Act to repeal 446.02 (10), 448.51 (2) (c), 448.52 (3) and 448.525; to renumber 448.52 (1) and (2) and 448.52 (5); to renumber and amend 448.50 (4), 448.52 (intro.), 448.52 (4) and 448.54 (2); to amend 48.981 (2), 146.81 (1) (dg), 146.997 (1) (d) 4., 155.01 (7), 252.14 (1) (ar) 4e., 448.51 (1), 448.51 (2) (a), 448.51 (2) (b), 448.54 (1), 448.54 (3), 448.55 (2), 448.57 (2) (b), 448.57 (2) (e), 448.57 (2) (f), 448.57 (2) (g) and 450.10 (3) (a) 5.; and to create 15.406 (1) (am), 440.08 (2) (a) 57m., 448.50 (1m), 448.50 (1r), 448.50 (3m), 448.50 (4) (a) 1. to 4., 448.50 (4) (b), 448.50 (5), 448.50 (6), 448.51 (1e), 448.51 (1s), 448.52 (2m), 448.522, 448.527, 448.53 (1) (f), 448.535, 448.54 (2) (b), 448.55 (3), 448.56 (1m), 448.56 (4), 448.56 (5), 448.565, 448.567, 448.57 (2) (am), 448.57 (2) (bm), 448.57 (2) (fm), 448.57 (3), 448.57 (4) and 448.57 (5) of the statutes; relating to: licensing of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants and granting rule-making authority.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
70,1
Section
1. 15.406 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
15.406 (1) (am) One physical therapist assistant licensed under subch. III of ch. 448.
70,2
Section
2. 48.981 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.981 (2) Persons required to report. A physician, coroner, medical examiner, nurse, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, acupuncturist, other medical or mental health professional, social worker, marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, public assistance worker, including a financial and employment planner, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (d), school teacher, administrator or counselor, mediator under s. 767.11, child care worker in a day care center or child caring institution, day care provider, alcohol or other drug abuse counselor, member of the treatment staff employed by or working under contract with a county department under s. 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapist, dietitian, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, emergency medical technician, first responder or police or law enforcement officer having reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen in the course of professional duties has been abused or neglected or having reason to believe that a child seen in the course of professional duties has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall, except as provided under sub. (2m), report as provided in sub. (3). A court-appointed special advocate having reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen in the course of the court-appointed special advocate's activities under s. 48.236 (3) has been abused or neglected or having reason to believe that a child seen in the course of those activities has been threatened with abuse and neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall, except as provided in sub. (2m), report as provided in sub. (3). Any other person, including an attorney, having reason to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected or reason to believe that a child has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur may make such a report. Any person, including an attorney, having reason to suspect that an unborn child has been abused or reason to believe that an unborn child is at substantial risk of abuse may report as provided in sub. (3). No person making a report under this subsection may be discharged from employment for so doing.
70,3
Section
3. 146.81 (1) (dg) of the statutes is amended to read:
146.81 (1) (dg) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed under subch. III of ch. 448.
70,4
Section
4. 146.997 (1) (d) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
146.997 (1) (d) 4. A physician, podiatrist or, physical therapist, or physical therapist assistant licensed under ch. 448.
70,5
Section
5. 155.01 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
155.01 (7) "Health care provider" means a nurse licensed or permitted under ch. 441, a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, a dentist licensed under ch. 447, a physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapist, or occupational therapy assistant licensed under ch. 448, a person practicing Christian Science treatment, an optometrist licensed under ch. 449, a psychologist licensed under ch. 455, a partnership thereof, a corporation or limited liability company thereof that provides health care services, an operational cooperative sickness care plan organized under ss. 185.981 to 185.985 that directly provides services through salaried employees in its own facility, or a home health agency, as defined in s. 50.49 (1) (a).
70,6
Section
6. 252.14 (1) (ar) 4e. of the statutes is amended to read:
252.14 (1) (ar) 4e. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed under subch. III of ch. 448.
70,7
Section
7. 440.08 (2) (a) 57m. of the statutes is created to read:
440.08 (2) (a) 57m. Physical therapist assistant: November 1 of each odd-numbered year; $44.
70,7m
Section 7m. 446.02 (10) of the statutes is repealed.
70,8
Section
8. 448.50 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
448.50 (1m) "Business entity" has the meaning given in s. 452.01 (3j).
70,9
Section
9. 448.50 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:
448.50 (1r) "Diagnosis" means a judgment that is made after examining the neuromusculoskeletal system or evaluating or studying its symptoms and that utilizes the techniques and science of physical therapy for the purpose of establishing a plan of therapeutic intervention, but does not include a chiropractic or medical diagnosis.
70,10
Section
10. 448.50 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
448.50 (3m) "Physical therapist assistant" means an individual who holds a license as a physical therapist assistant granted by the affiliated credentialing board.
70,11
Section
11. 448.50 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 448.50 (4) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:
448.50 (4) (a) (intro.) "Physical therapy" means
that branch or system of treating the sick which is limited to therapeutic exercises with or without assistive devices, and physical measures including heat and cold, air, water, light, sound, electricity and massage; and physical testing and evaluation. The use of roentgen rays and radium for any purpose, and the use of electricity for surgical purposes including cauterization, are not part of physical therapy. , except as provided in par. (b), any of the following:
70,12
Section
12. 448.50 (4) (a) 1. to 4. of the statutes are created to read:
448.50 (4) (a) 1. Examining, evaluating, or testing individuals with mechanical, physiological, or developmental impairments, functional limitations related to physical movement and mobility, disabilities, or other movement-related health conditions, in order to determine a diagnosis, prognosis, or plan of therapeutic intervention or to assess the ongoing effects of intervention. In this subdivision, "testing" means using standardized methods or techniques for gathering data about a patient.
2. Alleviating impairments or functional limitations by instructing patients or designing, implementing, or modifying therapeutic interventions.
3. Reducing the risk of injury, impairment, functional limitation, or disability, including by promoting or maintaining fitness, health, or quality of life in all age populations.
4. Engaging in administration, consultation, or research that is related to any activity specified in subds. 1. to 3.
70,12m
Section 12m. 448.50 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
448.50 (4) (b) "Physical therapy" does not include using roentgen rays or radium for any purpose, using electricity for surgical purposes, including cauterization, or prescribing drugs or devices.
70,13
Section
13. 448.50 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
448.50 (5) "Sexual misconduct with a patient" means any of the following:
(a) Engaging in or soliciting a consensual or nonconsensual sexual relationship with a patient.
(b) Making sexual advances toward, requesting sexual favors from, or engaging in other verbal conduct or physical contact of a sexual nature with a patient.
(c) Intentionally viewing a completely or partially disrobed patient during the course of treatment if the viewing is not related to diagnosis or treatment.
70,14
Section
14. 448.50 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
448.50 (6) "Therapeutic intervention" means the purposeful and skilled interaction between a physical therapist, patient, and, if appropriate, individuals involved in the patient's care, using physical therapy procedures or techniques that are intended to produce changes in the patient's condition and that are consistent with diagnosis and prognosis.
70,15
Section
15. 448.51 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
448.51 (1) Except as provided in s. 448.52, no person may practice physical therapy or designate himself or herself as a physical therapist or use or assume the title "physical therapist" or "physiotherapist" or "physical therapy technician" or append to the person's name the letters "P.T.", "P.T.T." or "R.P.T." or any other title, letters or designation which represents or may tend to represent the person as a physical therapist unless the person is licensed as a physical therapist under this subchapter.
70,16
Section
16. 448.51 (1e) of the statutes is created to read:
448.51 (1e) No person may designate himself or herself as a physical therapist or use or assume the title "physical therapist," "physiotherapist," "physical therapy technician," "licensed physical therapist," "registered physical therapist," "master of physical therapy," "master of science in physical therapy," or "doctorate in physical therapy," or append to the person's name the letters "P.T.," "P.T.T.," "L.P.T.," "R.P.T.," "M.P.T.," "M.S.P.T.," or "D.P.T.," or any other title, letters, or designation which represents or may tend to represent the person as a physical therapist, unless the person is licensed as a physical therapist under this subchapter.
70,17
Section
17. 448.51 (1s) of the statutes is created to read:
448.51 (1s) No person may designate himself or herself as a physical therapist assistant, use or assume the title "physical therapist assistant," or append to the person's name the letters "P.T.A." or any other title, letters, or designation that represents or may tend to represent the person as a physical therapist assistant unless the person is licensed as a physical therapist assistant under this subchapter.
70,18
Section
18. 448.51 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
448.51 (2) (a) In this subsection, "advertisement" includes advertisements that appear on outdoor signs, in print or electronic media, and in material mailed to a person other than a patient, client, or prospective patient or client who has requested the material.
70,19
Section
19. 448.51 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
448.51 (2) (b) Except as provided in par. (c) s. 448.52 (2m), no person may claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services unless the person is licensed as a physical therapist under this subchapter.
70,19e
Section 19e. 448.51 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
70,19m
Section 19m. 448.52 (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 448.52 (1m) (intro.) and amended to read:
448.52 (1m) (intro.) A license is not required under this subchapter for any of the following, if the person does not claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services as prohibited under s. 448.51 (2) (b):
70,19s
Section 19s. 448.52 (1) and (2) of the statutes are renumbered 448.52 (1m) (a) and (b).
70,19v
Section 19v. 448.52 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
448.52 (2m) A license is not required under this subchapter for any of the following:
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446 claiming to render physical therapy, if the physical therapy is provided by a physical therapist employed by the chiropractor.
(b) A chiropractor licensed under ch. 446 claiming to render physical therapy modality services.
70,20
Section
20. 448.52 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
70,21c
Section 21c. 448.52 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 448.52 (1m) (c) and amended to read:
448.52 (1m) (c) A physical therapy student practicing assisting a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy or a physical therapist assistant student assisting a physical therapist in performing physical therapy procedures and related tasks, if the assistance is within the scope of the student's education or training.
70,21h
Section 21h. 448.52 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 448.52 (1m) (d).
70,21p
Section 21p. 448.522 of the statutes is created to read:
448.522 Manipulation services. A physical therapist may not claim that any manipulation service that he or she provides is in any manner a chiropractic adjustment that is employed to correct a spinal subluxation.
70,21t
Section 21t. 448.525 of the statutes is repealed.
70,22
Section
22. 448.527 of the statutes is created to read:
448.527 Code of ethics. The affiliated credentialing board shall promulgate rules establishing a code of ethics governing the professional conduct of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.
70,23
Section
23. 448.53 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
448.53 (1) (f) If the person was educated at a physical therapy school that is not in the United States, the person satisfies any additional requirements for demonstrating competence to practice physical therapy that the affiliated credentialing board may establish by rule.
70,24
Section
24. 448.535 of the statutes is created to read:
448.535 Licensure of physical therapist assistants. (1) The affiliated credentialing board shall grant a license as a physical therapist assistant to a person who does all of the following:
(a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department.
(b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).
(c) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, submits evidence satisfactory to the affiliated credentialing board that the applicant does not have an arrest or conviction record.