Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 196 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Musselman, Calvin R.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/19/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• expands the definition of primary health care to include the services of physical therapists;
• recognizes that a health insurance policy has discretion to allow an insured to select a physical therapist as the insured's primary care provider for a neuromusculoskeletal condition; and
• makes conforming and technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

5
26B-4-301
31A-22-624
0
Physical Therapist Practice Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Calvin R. Musselman
House Sponsor: Norman K Thurston
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses physical therapists and primary care providers.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
expands the definition of primary health care to include the services of physical 
therapists; 
recognizes that a health insurance policy has discretion to allow an insured to select a 
physical therapist as the insured's primary care provider for a neuromusculoskeletal 
condition; and
makes conforming and technical changes. 
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
26B-4-301
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 261
31A-22-624
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 349
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
26B-4-301
 is amended to read:
26B-4-301
. Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1)
"Committee" means the Primary Care Grant Committee described in Section 
26B-1-410
.
(2)
"Community based organization":
(a)
means a private entity; and
(b)
includes for profit and not for profit entities.
(3)
"Cultural competence" means a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that 
come together in a system, agency, or profession and enables that system, agency, or 
profession to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.
(4)
"Emergency medical dispatch center" means a public safety answering point, as defined 
in Section 
63H-7a-103
, that is designated as an emergency medical dispatch center by 
the office.
(5)
"Health literacy" means the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, 
process, and understand health information and services needed to make appropriate 
health decisions.
(6)
"Institutional capacity" means the ability of a community based organization to 
implement public and private contracts.
(7)
"Medically underserved population" means the population of an urban or rural area or a 
population group that the committee determines has a shortage of primary health care.
(8)
"Office" means the Office of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness within the 
department.
(9)
"Pregnancy support services" means services that:
(a)
encourage childbirth instead of voluntary termination of pregnancy; and
(b)
assist pregnant women, or women who may become pregnant, to choose childbirth 
whether they intend to parent or select adoption for the child.
(10)
"Primary care grant" means a grant awarded by the department under Subsection 
26B-4-310
(1).
(11)
(a)
"Primary health care" means:
(i)
basic and general health care services given when a person seeks assistance to 
screen for or to prevent illness and disease, or for simple and common illnesses 
and injuries; and
(ii)
care given for the management of chronic diseases.
(b)
"Primary health care" includes:
(i)
services of physicians, nurses, physician's assistants, 
physical therapists, 
and 
dentists licensed to practice in this state under Title 58, Occupations and 
Professions;
(ii)
diagnostic and radiologic services;
(iii)
preventive health services including perinatal services, well-child services, and 
other services that seek to prevent 
injury, 
disease
,
 or 
its
the
 consequences
 of 
injury or disease
;
(iv)
emergency medical services;
(v)
preventive dental services; and
(vi)
pharmaceutical services.
Section 2, Section 
31A-22-624
 is amended to read:
31A-22-624
. Primary care physician, physician assistant, or physical therapist.
(1)
An accident and health insurance policy that requires an insured to select a primary 
care 
provider or 
physician to receive optimum coverage
 shall permit an insured to select 
a participating provider who is
:
(1)
shall permit an insured to select a participating provider who:
(a)
is an:
(i)
(a)
(i)
an 
obstetrician;
(ii)
a 
gynecologist;
(iii)
a 
pediatrician; or
(iv)
a 
physician assistant who works with a physician:
(A)
providing primary care; or
(B)
described in 
Subsections
Subsection
(1)(a)(i)
, 
(ii)
, or 
(iii)
; and
(b)
is 
qualified and willing to provide primary care services, as defined by the health 
care plan, as the insured's provider from whom primary care services are received
;
.
(2)
Subject to Subsection 
(5)
, an accident and health insurance policy that requires an 
insured to select a primary care provider or physician to receive optimum coverage may 
permit an insured to select a participating provider who is a physical therapist to provide 
physical therapy services.
(2)
(3)
An accident and health insurance policy 
shall clearly state in literature explaining 
the policy the 
option
options
 available to insureds under 
Subsection 
(1)
; and
Subsections (1) and (2).
(3)
(4)
An accident and health insurance policy 
may not impose a higher premium, higher 
copayment requirement, or any other additional expense on an insured because the 
insured selected a primary care physician in accordance with 
Subsection 
(1)
this section
.
(5)
Notwithstanding Subsection 
(2)
, nothing in this section permits a physical therapist to 
practice physical therapy outside of the physical therapist's scope of practice under Title 
58, Chapter 24b, Physical Therapy Practice Act.
Section 3. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-7-25 8:37 AM