Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 007 - Arkansas Department of Health
Division 33 - Division of Health Related Boards and Commissions
Rule 007.33.20-052 - State Board of Physical Therapy
Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 007.33.20-052
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
Pursuant to the Arkansas Telemedicine Act, Ark. Code Ann. §§ 17-80-401 et seq., the following rule applies to the provision of services via telehealth by physical therapists and physical therapy assistants when acting within their respective scopes of practice.
I.Requirement for all services provided by physical therapists using telehealth:
1. A professional relationship shall be
established in compliance with this rule to provide physical therapy services
through telehealth.
2. Once a
professional relationship is established, a licensee may provide healthcare
services through telehealth, including interactive audio, if the healthcare
services are within the physical therapy scope of practice.
3. The practice of physical therapy via
telehealth shall be held to the same standards of care as traditional in-person
encounters.
4. All licensees
providing care via telemedicine to a patient located within the State of
Arkansas shall be licensed to practice physical therapy in the State of
Arkansas.
5. Licensees utilizing
telehealth must follow applicable state/federal laws regarding informed
consent, HIPAA, medical records and confidentiality, and
fraud/waste/abuse.
6. If a decision
is made to provide physical therapy through telehealth, the physical therapist
accepts responsibility and liability for the care of the patient.
II. Patient/ Physical Therapist Relationship
1. For purposes of this regulation, a
professional relationship, at a minimum, requires that:
A. The licensee performs a history and an "in
person" physical examination of the patient adequate to establish a diagnosis
and identify underlying conditions and/or contraindications to the treatment
recommended/provided, OR
B. The
licensee personally knows the patient and the patient's general health status
through an "ongoing" personal or professional relationship; and
C. Appropriate follow-up be provided or
arranged, when necessary, at medically necessary intervals.
2. For the purposes of this
regulation, a professional relationship is deemed to exist in the following
situations:
A. When treatment is provided in
consultation with, or upon referral by, another healthcare professional who has
an ongoing relationship with the patient, and who has agreed to supervise the
patient's treatment, including follow up care and the use of any prescribed
medications.
B. On-call or
cross-coverage situations arranged by the patient's treating physical
therapist.
3.
"Professional relationship" does not include a relationship between a licensee
and a patient established only by the following:
A. An internet questionnaire;
B. An email message;
C. Patient-generated medical
history;
D. Audio-only
communication, including without limitation interactive audio;
E. Text messaging;
F. A facsimile machine; or
G. Any combination thereof.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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