N.Y. Education Law § 6731: Definition of physical therapy

§ 6731. Definition of physical therapy. Physical therapy is defined

as:

a. The evaluation, treatment or prevention of disability, injury,

disease, or other condition of health using physical, chemical, and

mechanical means including, but not limited to heat, cold, light, air,

water, sound, electricity, massage, mobilization, and therapeutic

exercise with or without assistive devices, and the performance and

interpretation of tests and measurements to assess pathophysiological,

pathomechanical, and developmental deficits of human systems to

determine treatment, and assist in diagnosis and prognosis.

b. The use of roentgen rays or radium, or the use of electricity for

surgical purposes such as cauterization shall not be included in the

practice of physical therapy.

c. Such treatment shall be rendered pursuant to a referral which may

be directive as to treatment by a licensed physician, dentist,

podiatrist, nurse practitioner or licensed midwife, each acting within

his or her lawful scope of practice, and in accordance with their

diagnosis, except as provided in subdivision d of this section.

d. Such treatment may be rendered by a licensed physical therapist for

ten visits or thirty days, whichever shall occur first, without a

referral from a physician, dentist, podiatrist, nurse practitioner or

licensed midwife provided that:

(1) The licensed physical therapist has practiced physical therapy on

a full time basis equivalent to not less than three years.

(2) Each physical therapist licensed pursuant to this article shall

provide written notice to each patient receiving treatment absent a

referral from a physician, dentist, podiatrist, nurse practitioner or

licensed midwife that physical therapy may not be covered by the

patient's health care plan or insurer without such a referral and that

such treatment may be a covered expense if rendered pursuant to a

referral. The physical therapist shall keep on file with the patient's

records a form attesting to the patient's notice of such advice. Such

form shall be in duplicate, with one copy to be retained by the patient,

signed and dated by both the physical therapist and the patient in such

form as prescribed pursuant to regulations promulgated by the

commissioner.