Legislative Action

As many of you know, Utah has proudly been named "The Best State to Practice Physical Therapy" for six consecutive years by PTInMotion Magazine. This recognition is a significant honor for our state and reflects the dedication and hard work of our physical therapy community. Looking ahead, we wanted to share how your PAC donations have contributed to our past successes and how you can continue to support our future initiatives. It's important to note that your PAC donations do not fund the APTA Utah lobbyist.

Our Accomplishments:

• Legislation for Imaging: APTA Utah successfully passed legislation allowing Physical Therapists to order plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging. Learn more.

• Disability Certification: We also passed legislation enabling Physical Therapists to certify for disability and issue handicap placards. Learn more.

• Opposing HB0252: APTA Utah effectively lobbied against HB0252, which would have allowed Athletic Trainers (ATCs) to bill insurance companies directly, potentially impacting PT and PTA practices by putting ATCs in direct competition despite their different skill sets. We expect this issue may arise again in the future.

• Practice Act Changes: We achieved important revisions to the practice act with the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) regarding joint mobilizations. The term "chiropractic" was removed, and we adopted APTA's language, defining it as "a manual therapy technique comprised of a continuum of skilled passive movements applied at varying speeds and amplitudes, including a small amplitude/high velocity therapeutic movement."

• PT Compact License: We successfully passed legislation for Utah to join the PT Compact, allowing Physical Therapists to practice across state lines while adhering to each state’s practice act.

Upcoming Focus:

Our next major focus will be on payment issues, including tackling concerns related to co-pays, prior authorization, and gaining primary care provider designations for PTs.

How You Can Help:

• Donate: Consider making a one-time donation or setting up a recurring contribution—even just $2 a month via Venmo (@aptautah) can make a difference.

• Silent Auction Contributions: Donate items such as tickets, gift baskets, or passes for our silent auction at the Fall Conference. Your contributions will be acknowledged and greatly appreciated.

• Solicit Donations: Help by reaching out to vendors or business owners for donations. You can find a solicitation letter template here.

If you would like to donate an item for the auction, please contact Katie Mansell, our Executive Director, to arrange pickup. Be sure to include a logo or business card with your donation for proper recognition.

Thank you in advance for your generosity—your support is invaluable to our chapter’s ongoing success!