Legislative Action

As many of you know, Utah was proudly been named "The Best State to Practice Physical Therapy" for six consecutive years by PTInMotion Magazine before the award was discontinued. This recognition was 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.

Our Accomplishments:

• Primary Care Physical Therapy: APTA Utah successfully passed landmark legislation recognizing Physical Therapists as primary care providers for musculoskeletal conditions. This important change helps improve patient access to conservative, cost-effective care and further positions PTs as front-line providers within the healthcare system.
• Copay Legislation: APTA Utah also passed legislation aligning copays for physical therapy with primary care provider copays for applicable plans. This reduces financial barriers for patients seeking physical therapy care and supports earlier access to treatment.
• Scope Enhancements and Practice Act Modernization: Through ongoing collaboration with legislators, stakeholders, and the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), APTA Utah advanced significant updates to the Physical Therapy Practice Act, including:
  • Removing restrictions on imaging referrals and orders for Physical Therapists
  • Updating the dry needling definition by removing outdated “trigger point” language
  • Clarifying Physical Therapist authority to order durable medical equipment (DME)
  • Updating PTA joint mobilization language to allow PTAs to perform joint mobilization techniques with the exception of high velocity thrust techniques
• Disability Certification: APTA Utah successfully passed legislation allowing Physical Therapists to certify disability and issue handicap placards, improving patient access and reducing unnecessary barriers in care.
• PT Compact License: APTA Utah successfully passed legislation allowing Utah to join the PT Compact, enabling Physical Therapists to practice across state lines while still following each state’s practice act requirements.

Upcoming Focus:

Our next major focus will be on credentialing, prior authorization, and a continued focus on improving payment.

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.

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!