Re: OANDP-L Digest - 27 Dec 2003 to 29 Dec 2003 (#2003-266)

Re: OANDP-L Digest - 27 Dec 2003 to 29 Dec 2003 (#2003-266)

The fact that California and other states are confronting the threat of PT
scope of practice encroachment demonstrates the need for state licensure in O&P
whereby state regulation would require a license to practice prothetics and
orthotics. If California had a licensure bill like Washington State, the PT's
could simply be blocked by the O&P licensees' objections to an expanded PT
scope of practice. California O & P practitioners need to obtain licensure status
or the PT's will continue to present a very real threat to the O & P
practitioners' exclusive scope of practice.
Furthermore, only a state O & P licensure bill that includes a minimum of a
bachelor's degree will avoid the watering down of your credential such as
ABC/BOC is contemplating. In Washington, we are glad that we did not mention ABC by
name as upholding the educational standards for certification in order to
establish the educational requirement to qualify for our state licensure.
Instead, we listed the educational standard itself (bachelor's degree with 1900
hours of supervised experience) as the requirement for new entrants in the field.
David Varnau, LPO
In a message dated 12/29/2003 9:10:22 PM Pacific Standard Time,
<Email Address Redacted> writes:
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003 16:44:29 -0500
From: AOPA < <Email Address Redacted> >
Subject: Legislative Action Alert--California Practitioners

* * * URGENT LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT * * *
December 29, 2003

Dear California Practitioners:

On January 12, 2004, the California State Senate Business and
Professions Committee will consider legislation that would expand the
California Physical Therapy Practice Act to permit physical therapists
(PTs) to prescribe, fabricate and fit patients with any type of orthotic
or prosthetic device and to train patients in the use of prosthetic
devices. The bill number for this legislation is SB 77.

The O&P profession needs to tell California state senators immediately
that expanding the PT's scope of practice into the orthotics and
prosthetics field will risk consumer safety and the quality of care
delivered to patients in California. Moreover, lawmakers should know
that the proposal will likely lead to increased Medi-Cal costs at a time
when the state is facing a severe fiscal crisis and provider payments
continue to come under assault.

The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) and the California
Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (COPA) are making our views on this
legislation known to the Business and Professions Committee. But, as
always, your personal experiences will carry the most weight with your
state senator since you are best qualified to describe how this
legislation will directly impact California patients in need of O&P
services. Therefore, we ask that you write a personal letter to your
state senator and relay the following message:

* * * PHYSICAL THERAPISTS ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO PRESCRIBE, FABRICATE, FIT
AND REPAIR THE FULL RANGE OF ORTHOTIC AND PROSTHETIC DEVICES * * *

Last year, we were able to defeat this measure because of significant
input from the provider community. This input is needed again. If PTs
are successful in California, it
will be far easier for them to include O&P in other state PT practice
act expansion efforts. That is why your input on this critical issue is
essential.