California Physical Therapists' Efforts Were Key to Keeping AB 783 from Passing Out of Committee

California Physical Therapists' Efforts Were Key to Keeping AB 783 from Passing Out of Committee

(Sacramento, CA) - Physical therapists and their patients can celebrate today because the California Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development did not pass out of committee AB 783, a bill that would have allowed physicians to refer physical therapy services to themselves for their own financial gain.

AB 783, otherwise known as the "Physician Self-Referral for Profit" measure, did not pass out of the committee despite the strong backing of the California Medical Association, whose members would have monetarily benefited from owning, controlling and unlawfully employing physical therapists under California law.

Following the decision, Dr. James Syms, PT, DSc, ATC, SCS, president of the California Physical Therapy Association, issued this statement:

"We wish to acknowledge members of the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee for their due diligence in recognizing the impact this bill would have on California residents by limiting patient access to physical therapists of their own choosing and restricting the independent judgment of physical therapists not tied to a physician employer.

"AB 783 would have made it legal for medical corporations to employ physical therapists and allowed physicians to refer physical therapy services to their own employees.

"We applaud the senators for recognizing this bill for what it really is: an inherent conflict of interest."

CONTACT: Heather Pino
Executive Associate, Membership & Communications
(916) 929-2782

/PRNewswire -- June 13, 2011/

SOURCE California Physical Therapy Association

California Physical Therapy Association

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