On June 21, physicians from the Ohio Osteopathic Association, the Ohio Orthopedic Society, the Ohio Foot and Ankle Medical Association, the Ohio State University College of Medicine Department of Orthopedics, and the Ohio State Sports Medicine Institute testified in opposition to House Bill (HB) 131 which expands the scope of practice of physical therapists (PTs) to order tests and diagnose physical disabilities.
Testimony before the House Health and Aging Committee focused on the merits of team-based care and the fact that the contributions of PTs to the health care delivery system are valued but any expansion of their authority to provide services to patients requires appropriate physician oversight and additional education, training, and competency demonstration requirements.
Testimony stressed that diagnosing patients constitutes the practice of medicine, and as such should be limited to fully trained and licensed physicians.
The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is opposed to HB 131 and is coordinating advocacy efforts with other physician organizations through the Ohio State Medical Association.