Direct Access Laws by State (Rhode Island-Wyoming)

Well folks, it’s been a heck of a journey, but we’ve finally made it to the last leg. In the final installment of this four-part series, we’ll be hitting up New England and making our way cross-country to the Cowboy State. (Previously, I covered Alabama - Hawaii, Idaho - Mississippi, and Missouri - Pennsylvania.) But before we get down to business, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I’m by no means a legal expert, and all of the following info was sourced from this APTA document. So, before you accept any direct access patients in your practice, be sure to consult with an attorney or PT compliance expert. With that out of the way, let’s get to it:

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

• South Dakota is one of 18 states that allow patients total, unrestricted access to a physical therapist. According to state law, no type of physician referral is required for a physical therapist to evaluate or treat a patient, and there are no provisions to treatment.

Tennessee

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Texas

Utah

• Utah is one of 18 states that allow patients total, unrestricted access to a physical therapist. According to state law, no type of physician referral is required for a physical therapist to evaluate or treat a patient.
• PTs may not provide medical diagnoses of disease, surgery, acupuncture, or imaging.

Vermont

• Vermont is one of 18 states that allow patients total, unrestricted access to a physical therapist. According to state law, no type of physician referral is required for a physical therapist to evaluate or treat a patient, and there are no provisions to treatment.

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

• West Virginia is one of 18 states that allow patients total, unrestricted access to a physical therapist. According to state law, no type of physician referral is required for a physical therapist to evaluate or treat a patient.
• PTs may not conduct electromyography examinations and electrodiagnostic studies—other than for the purpose of determining chronaxia and strength duration curves—unless they are under the supervision of a licensed electromyographer and electrodiagnostician.

Wisconsin

Wyoming

It’s my hope that this information will empower every physical therapist in the US to grow his or her practice and promote PTs as the go-to providers for patients in need of musculoskeletal care. After all, there’s no healthcare professional who receives more training in the treatment of these types of diseases and injuries than a physical therapist does.

Want all of this information in one handy, easy-to-read guide? Download The PT’s Guide to Direct Access Law in All 50 States and find out how you can become the go-to provider for musculoskeletal injury in your area.