(a) A physical therapist may treat a patient for an injury or condition in a manner described by Section 453.005 without a referral if the physical therapist:
(1) has been licensed to practice physical therapy for at least one year;
(2) is covered by professional liability insurance in the minimum amount required by board rule; and
(3) either:
(A) possesses a doctoral degree in physical therapy from:
(i) a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; or
(ii) an institution that is accredited by an agency or association recognized by the United States secretary of education; or
(B) has completed at least 30 hours of continuing competence activities in the area of differential diagnosis.
(a-1) A physical therapist may treat a patient under Subsection (a) for not more than 30 consecutive calendar days.
(a-2) Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1090 (H.B. 4099), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.
(b) The physical therapist must obtain a referral from a referring practitioner before the physical therapist may continue treatment that exceeds treatment authorized under Subsection (a-1).
(c) A physical therapist who treats a patient without a referral shall obtain from the patient a signed disclosure on a form prescribed by the board in which the patient acknowledges that:
(1) physical therapy is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis by a physician;
(2) physical therapy is not based on radiological imaging;
(3) a physical therapist cannot diagnose an illness or disease; and
(4) the patient's health insurance may not include coverage for the physical therapist's services.