BILL #    SB 1267	TITLE: physical therapy assistants; students; supervision
SPONSOR:    Shope	STATUS: As Amended by Senate HHS
PREPARED BY:    Destin Moss

Description

The bill would require physical therapy assistants to be licensed rather than certified. The bill would further require the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and its contractors to exempt members from physical therapy visit limitations if the member can provide documentation to justify the need for continued therapy, among other provisions.

Estimated Impact

Based on information provided by AHCCCS, we estimate this bill will have an ongoing impact of $217,800 from the General Fund and $823,600 from non-General Fund sources to exempt AHCCCS recipients from physical therapy visit limitations. 

Based on information provided by the Board of Physical Therapy, we also estimate this bill will generate up to $15,000 in one-time costs from the Physical Therapy fund to implement the licensing of physical therapy assistants.

Analysis

The bill provision requiring AHCCCS to exempt members from visit limitations would increase the number of visits the agency is required to pay. AHCCCS estimates that this will generate $1.0 million in costs, including $217,800 from the General Fund and $823,300 from non-General Fund sources.

The Board of Physical Therapy states that the bill provision requiring the licensing of physical therapy assistants will require the board to update their software systems, website, application forms, and jurisprudence examination, at a minimum. The board expects that these changes will cost between $10,000 and $15,000. The board states that they may have to increase licensing and renewal fees to cover these increased costs depending on the availability of other funding.

Local Government Impact

None

2/16/24