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Minutes for SB440 - Committee on Health and Human Services
Short Title
Establishing when an occupational therapist may treat a patient without referral from a physician and requiring occupational therapists to maintain professional liability insurance.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 9, 2022
Travis Grauerholz on behalf of the Kansas Occupational Therapy Association provided testimony in support of SB440 (Attachment 1). In current law, occupational therapists are only allowed to evaluate and treat patients with a doctors referral. SB440 provides the therapists with limited ability to treat patients without a referral of a licensed physician. The bill does not completely eliminate referrals. The bill adds in language the need for occupational therapists to maintain professional liability coverage. SB440 also will allow occupational therapists to perform wound care management services only after approval from a person licensed to practice medicine or surgery. The Kansas Medical Society and the Kansas Board of Healing Arts assisted in developing the compromise within the bill.
Mr. Grauerholz responded to questions from the committee.
