Section 4755.47 | Disciplinary actions.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the physical therapy section of the Ohio occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic trainers board may, except as provided in division (B) of this section, refuse to grant a license to an applicant for an initial or renewed license as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant or, by an affirmative vote of not less than five members, may limit, suspend, or revoke the license of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant or reprimand, fine, place a license holder on probation, or require the license holder to take corrective action courses, on any of the following grounds:

(1) Habitual indulgence in the use of controlled substances, other habit-forming drugs, or alcohol to an extent that affects the individual's professional competency;

(2) Conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, regardless of the state or country in which the conviction occurred;

(3) Obtaining or attempting to obtain a license issued by the physical therapy section by fraud or deception, including the making of a false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading statement;

(4) An adjudication by a court, as provided in section 5122.301 of the Revised Code, that the applicant or licensee is incompetent for the purpose of holding the license and has not thereafter been restored to legal capacity for that purpose;

(5) Subject to section 4755.471 of the Revised Code, violation of the code of ethics adopted by the physical therapy section;

(6) Violating or attempting to violate, directly or indirectly, or assisting in or abetting the violation of or conspiring to violate sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code or any order issued or rule adopted under those sections;

(7) Failure of one or both of the examinations required under section 4755.43 or 4755.431 of the Revised Code;

(8) Permitting the use of one's name or license by a person, group, or corporation when the one permitting the use is not directing the treatment given;

(9) Denial, revocation, suspension, or restriction of authority to practice a health care occupation, including physical therapy, for any reason other than a failure to renew, in Ohio or another state or jurisdiction;

(10) Failure to maintain minimal standards of practice in the administration or handling of drugs, as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, or failure to employ acceptable scientific methods in the selection of drugs, as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, or other modalities for treatment;

(11) Willful betrayal of a professional confidence;

(12) Making a false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading statement in the solicitation of or advertising for patients in relation to the practice of physical therapy;

(13) A departure from, or the failure to conform to, minimal standards of care required of licensees when under the same or similar circumstances, whether or not actual injury to a patient is established;

(14) Obtaining, or attempting to obtain, money or anything of value by fraudulent misrepresentations in the course of practice;

(15) Violation of the conditions of limitation or agreements placed by the physical therapy section on a license to practice;

(16) Failure to renew a license in accordance with section 4755.46 of the Revised Code;

(17) Except as provided in section 4755.471 of the Revised Code, engaging in the division of fees for referral of patients or receiving anything of value in return for a specific referral of a patient to utilize a particular service or business;

(18) Inability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of care because of mental illness or physical illness, including physical deterioration that adversely affects cognitive, motor, or perception skills;

(19) The revocation, suspension, restriction, or termination of clinical privileges by the United States department of defense or department of veterans affairs;

(20) Termination or suspension from participation in the medicare or medicaid program established under Title XVIII and Title XIX, respectively, of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C. 301, as amended, for an act or acts that constitute a violation of sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(21) Failure of a physical therapist to maintain supervision of a student, physical therapist assistant, unlicensed support personnel, other assistant personnel, or a license applicant in accordance with the requirements of sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under those sections;

(22) Failure to complete continuing education requirements as prescribed in section 4755.51 or 4755.511 of the Revised Code or to satisfy any rules applicable to continuing education requirements that are adopted by the physical therapy section;

(23) Conviction of a misdemeanor when the act that constitutes the misdemeanor occurs during the practice of physical therapy;

(24)(a) Except as provided in division (A)(24)(b) of this section, failure to cooperate with an investigation conducted by the physical therapy section, including failure to comply with a subpoena or orders issued by the section or failure to answer truthfully a question presented by the section at a deposition or in written interrogatories.

(b) Failure to cooperate with an investigation does not constitute grounds for discipline under this section if a court of competent jurisdiction issues an order that either quashes a subpoena or permits the individual to withhold the testimony or evidence at issue.

(25) Regardless of whether it is consensual, engaging in any of the following with a patient other than the spouse of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant:

(a) Sexual conduct, as defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code;

(b) Sexual contact, as defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code;

(c) Verbal behavior that is sexually demeaning to the patient or may be reasonably interpreted by the patient as sexually demeaning.

(26) Failure to notify the physical therapy section of a change in name, business address, or home address within thirty days after the date of change;

(27) Except as provided in division (C) of this section:

(a) Waiving the payment of all or any part of a deductible or copayment that a patient, pursuant to a health insurance or health care policy, contract, or plan that covers physical therapy, would otherwise be required to pay if the waiver is used as an enticement to a patient or group of patients to receive health care services from that provider;

(b) Advertising that the individual will waive the payment of all or any part of a deductible or copayment that a patient, pursuant to a health insurance or health care policy, contract, or plan that covers physical therapy, would otherwise be required to pay.

(28) Violation of any section of this chapter or rule adopted under it.

(B) The physical therapy section shall not refuse to issue a license to an applicant because of a criminal conviction unless the refusal is in accordance with section 9.79 of the Revised Code.

(C) Sanctions shall not be imposed under division (A)(27) of this section against any individual who waives deductibles and copayments as follows:

(1) In compliance with the health benefit plan that expressly allows such a practice. Waiver of the deductibles or copayments shall be made only with the full knowledge and consent of the plan purchaser, payer, and third-party administrator. Documentation of the consent shall be made available to the physical therapy section upon request.

(2) For professional services rendered to any other person licensed pursuant to sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code to the extent allowed by those sections and the rules of the physical therapy section.

(D) When a license is revoked under this section, application for reinstatement may not be made sooner than one year after the date of revocation. The physical therapy section may accept or refuse an application for reinstatement and may require that the applicant pass an examination as a condition for reinstatement.

When a license holder is placed on probation under this section, the physical therapy section's order for placement on probation shall be accompanied by a statement of the conditions under which the individual may be removed from probation and restored to unrestricted practice.

(E) When an application for an initial or renewed license is refused under this section, the physical therapy section shall notify the applicant in writing of the section's decision to refuse issuance of a license and the reason for its decision.

(F) On receipt of a complaint that a person licensed by the physical therapy section has committed any of the actions listed in division (A) of this section, the physical therapy section may immediately suspend the license of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant prior to holding a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code if it determines, based on the complaint, that the person poses an immediate threat to the public. The physical therapy section may review the allegations and vote on the suspension by telephone conference call. If the physical therapy section votes to suspend a license under this division, the physical therapy section shall serve a written order of summary suspension to the person in accordance with sections 119.05 and 119.07 of the Revised Code. If the person fails to make a timely request for an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the physical therapy section shall enter a final order permanently revoking the person's license. Notwithstanding section 119.12 of the Revised Code, a court of common pleas shall not grant a suspension of the physical therapy section's order of summary suspension pending the determination of an appeal filed under that section. Any order of summary suspension issued under this division shall remain in effect, unless reversed on appeal, until a final adjudication order issued by the physical therapy section pursuant to division (A) of this section becomes effective. The physical therapy section shall issue its final adjudication order regarding an order of summary suspension issued under this division not later than ninety days after completion of its hearing. Failure to issue the order within ninety days shall result in immediate dissolution of the suspension order, but shall not invalidate any subsequent, final adjudication order.

Last updated October 4, 2023 at 10:24 AM

Available Versions of this Section

• September 29, 2013 – House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly
• September 30, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly
• October 9, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly
• October 3, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly