Overview:
South Carolina citizens are being harmed by unique and unnecessary regulations on the delivery of physical therapy services. The forced fragmentation in delivery of therapy impedes patient’s rights; increases healthcare costs; and raises significant quality of care and patient safety concerns.

Background:
In 2006, the South Carolina Physical Therapy Association and American Physical Therapy Association were successful in their strategic plan to eliminate the ability of physicians to enter into reasonable employment relationships with physical therapists. Such relationships are recognized and protected in 48 other states and by Federal anti-kickback rules and regulations. The physical therapy community utilized some vague language in the South Carolina statutes to press for interpretation and enforcement of a rule that would allow the Board of Physical Therapy to revoke the license of any therapist who was employed by a physician from whom they accept patient referrals. The implementation of the law immediately ended long standing employment relationships between physicians and therapists in the state.

The provision of physical therapy is an integral part of the practice of orthopaedic surgery. Their patients depend on efficient and effective therapy to build muscle strength, return to normal function or rehabilitate after surgery. Because of current law, physicians no longer have the ability to effectively manage and oversee therapy rendered to their patients. Physicians are forced to outsource all therapy to providers with whom they may not have any relationship or any measure of quality control. Patients no longer have the option to receive therapy in their physician’s practice as they did prior to 2006. Medicare studies have proven that therapy rendered in an independent therapy center is significantly more expensive than therapy rendered in a physician office.

Conclusion:
The current law benefits a single entity, independent physical therapy clinic owners, to the detriment of patients, payers, and physicians. In 48 other states, physicians employ physical therapists and co-exist with independent therapy providers in their community. More importantly, in 48 other states patients have the right to choose where they receive their therapy.

By supporting this legislation you have the opportunity to protect patient safety, restore patient rights, restore competition in the marketplace, and decrease health care costs. We thank you for your support of this important legislation.

Patient Choice Patient Safety Lower Costs (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

Summary of 2009 Report on Physical Therapy Utilization (PDF)

AAOS Position Statement on Physician Employment of Physical Therapy (PDF)

The SCOA is proud to participate in a coalition of organizations, patients, and therapists that support this legislative initiative.  To learn more about this issue, join the coalition, and contact your local legislators, please click on the following link:  www.physicaltherapychoice.com.

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