POPTS Here to Stay?

Without action on your part, it looks like they are here for good.

There is a bill, AB 1152 working its way through the California Legislature right now. If it passed, there will be a regulation and precedent in place that from what we understand, will essentially make it legal for POPTS clinic owners to employ PTs, and also make them partners (LOL)?

Here is what you must do now (courtesy the CPTA):

AB 1152 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development on Monday, July 6th!

Thank you to those members who have contacted your local representatives in opposition to this bill. We appreciate your unwavering support! If you have not contacted your state representatives we ask that you take a minute and do so now (please see instructions below). Thank you for your time and dedication to the profession of physical therapy.

We need your immediate assistance to defeat this bill! In its current form, AB 1152 would make it clear in law that physicians and podiatrists may employ physical therapists in their professional corporations by adding physical therapists to the list of healing arts practitioners who may be "shareholders, officers, directors, or professional employees of a medical corporation or a podiatric medical corporation." While current law is silent and, therefore, somewhat open to interpretation on the issue of PT employment by physicians and podiatrists, passage of AB 1152 would make it indisputable.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has opposed referral for profit and physician ownership of physical therapy services for many years, taking the position that such arrangements pose an inherent conflict of interest impeding both the autonomous practice of the physical therapist and the fiduciary relationship between the therapist and patient. The ethical, business and legal aspects of these types of relationships are being closely scrutinized in terms of restraint of trade and competition, and interference with consumer choice.

Here is a link to more information regarding APTA’s position on Physician Owned Physical Therapy Services:

CPTA is strongly opposed to the bill in its current form.

We need your help! Here is what you can do:

1. Please make a phone call and send in a letter of opposition to your local state Senator. To find your state senator click here CPTA Legislative Action Center and enter your zip code. Once you enter your zip code you will be provided with your state representatives names. Click on your state senator's name to access their contact information. Please make your phone calls of opposition to your senator's Sacramento/ capitol office.

Just call and say, "Hello, my name is _______. I’m a physical therapist (patient, student) and a constituent from ______, CA. and I want to urge Senator (NAME) to oppose AB 1152 when it is heard in the Senate Business Professions and Economic Development Committee.

2. Please fax a personalized letter of opposition including your name, address and place of business. Email the AB 1152 Professional Corporations (Anderson) OPPOSE letter through the CPTA Legislative Action Center.

Your phone calls and letters will impact and PROTECT the future of the physical therapy profession.

Thank you for participating in our efforts!

Thank you-

Tameka Island

Executive Associate, Professional Affairs
California Physical Therapy Association
2880 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 140
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 929-2782 | (916) 646-5960 - fax
www.ccapta.org