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BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Board of Physical Therapy

(Amendment)

201 KAR 22:010.Objectives of physical therapy.

RELATES TO:

KRS 327.010

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

KRS 327.040

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT:

This is to certify that this administrative regulation complies with the requirements of 2025 RS HB 6, Section 8.

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:

The practice of physical therapy is rapidly evolving and changing in purpose and scope. The purpose of this administrative regulation is to define clearly the desired goals of physical therapy and the permissible means of achieving these goals. In this manner, standards of physical therapy practice are clearly established and may be used to evaluate particular treatments which have been used or which may later evolve.

Section 1.

Goals of the patient-physical therapy team~~unit~~ include, but are not limited to, maintaining health, preserving functional capacity, and in the presence of impairment, developing or reestablishing function through carefully planned, and implemented programs. In order to reach these objectives, the physical therapist provides consultation, evaluates patients, identifies problems, plans programs, and provides direct treatment.

Section 2.

Patient Management. Adequate, effective, and efficient patient care is the ultimate goal of physical therapy. The physical therapist evaluates each patient, and determines those ways in which theyhe can contribute to total health management. The physical therapistHe then plans and implements a treatment program, reevaluating and making modifications as necessary. A physical therapist shall refer to the appropriatea licensed healthcare professional~~physician or dentist~~ any patient whose medical condition should, at the time of evaluation or treatment, be determined to be beyond the scope of practice of the physical therapist. When basis for treatment is referral, the physical therapist may confer with the referring licensed healthcare professional~~physician, podiatrist, dentist, or chiropractor~~.

STEPHEN CURLEY, Executive Director

APPROVED BY AGENCY: March 19. 2026

FILED WITH LRC: April 15, 2026 at 9:35 a.m.

PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT PERIOD: A public hearing on this administrative regulation shall be held on June 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. (ET) at 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 102, Louisville, Kentucky 40222. Individuals interested in being heard at this hearing shall notify this agency in writing five days prior to the hearing, of their intent to attend. If no notification of intent to attend the hearing is received by that date, the hearing may be cancelled. This hearing is open to the public. Any person who wishes to be heard will be given an opportunity to comment on the proposed administrative regulation. A transcript of the public hearing will not be made unless a written request for a transcript is made. If you do not wish to be heard at the public hearing, you may submit written comments on the proposed administrative regulation. Written comments shall be accepted until June 30, 2026. Send written notification of intent to be heard at the public hearing or written comments on the proposed administrative regulation to the contact person.

CONTACT PERSON: Stephen Curley, Executive Director, Board of Physical Therapy, 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 102, Louisville, Kentucky 40222, (502) 429-7140 and Fax (502) 429-7142, Stephen.Curley@ky.gov.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS AND TIERING STATEMENT

Contact Person:

Stephen Curley, Executive Director, (502) 429-7140, Stephen.curley@ky.gov.

Subject Headings:

Physical Therapy, Occupations and Professions, Boards and Commissions,

(1) Provide a brief summary of:

(a) What this administrative regulation does:

This administrative regulation outlines the Objectives of physical therapy.

(b) The necessity of this administrative regulation:

This administrative regulation was necessary to implement provisions of KRS Chapter 327.040.

It provides the Objectives of the practice of physical therapy.

(d) How this administrative regulation currently assists or will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:

It provides the Objectives of the practice of physical therapy.

(2) If this is an amendment to an existing administrative regulation, provide a brief summary of:

(a) How the amendment will change this existing administrative regulation:

This amendment would update the language to be uniform across 201 KAR 22.

(b) The necessity of the amendment to this administrative regulation:

The necessity is to update the language to be uniform across 201 KAR 22.

The board is authorized to amend administrative regulations.

(d) How the amendment will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:

amendment would update the language to be uniform across 201 KAR 22.

(3) Does this administrative regulation or amendment implement legislation from the previous five years?

(4) List the type and number of individuals, businesses, organizations, or state and local governments affected by this administrative regulation:

Approximately 6500

(5) Provide an analysis of how the entities identified in question (4) will be impacted by either the implementation of this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change, if it is an amendment, including:

(a) List the actions that each of the regulated entities identified in question (4) will have to take to comply with this administrative regulation or amendment:

None.

(b) In complying with this administrative regulation or amendment, how much will it cost each of the entities identified in question (4):

There will be no additional cost.

Easier reading and understanding of 201 KAR 22.

(6) Provide an estimate of how much it will cost the administrative body to implement this administrative regulation:

(a) Initially:

No cost.

(b) On a continuing basis:

No cost.

(7) What is the source of the funding to be used for the implementation and enforcement of this administrative regulation or this amendment:

Agency Revenue Fund, and costs will not change from current spending.

(8) Provide an assessment of whether an increase in fees or funding will be necessary to implement this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change if it is an amendment:

There will be no increase in fees or funding.

(9) State whether or not this administrative regulation establishes any fees or directly or indirectly increases any fees:

None.

(10) TIERING: Is tiering applied?

Tiering was not used in this administrative regulation because the administrative regulation applies equally to all those individuals regulated by it.

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT

(1) Identify each state statute, federal statute, or federal regulation that requires or authorizes the action taken by the administrative regulation:

KRS Chapter 327.040.

(2) State whether this administrative regulation is expressly authorized by an act of the General Assembly, and if so, identify the act:

KRS 327.040.

(3)(a) Identify the promulgating agency and any other affected state units, parts, or divisions:

Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy

(b) Estimate the following for each affected state unit, part, or division identified in (3)(a):

1. Expenditures:

For the first year:

None

For subsequent years:

None

2. Revenues:

For the first year:

None

For subsequent years:

None

3. Cost Savings:

For the first year:

None

For subsequent years:

None

(4)(a) Identify affected local entities (for example: cities, counties, fire departments, school districts):

None

(b) Estimate the following for each affected local entity identified in (4)(a):

1. Expenditures:

For the first year:

None

For subsequent years:

None

2. Revenues:

For the first year:

None

For subsequent years:

None

3. Cost Savings:

For the first year:

None

For subsequent years:

None

(5)(a) Identify any affected regulated entities not listed in (3)(a) or (4)(a):

Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistants

(b) Estimate the following for each regulated entity identified in (5)(a):

1. Expenditures:

For the first year:

None

For subsequent years:

None

2. Revenues:

For the first year:

None

For subsequent years:

None

3. Cost Savings:

For the first year:

None

For subsequent years:

None

(6) Provide a narrative to explain the following for each entity identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a)

(a) Fiscal impact of this administrative regulation:

None

(b) Methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:

there are no fee changes or added costs.

(7) Explain, as it relates to the entities identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a):

(a) Whether this administrative regulation will have a "major economic impact", as defined by KRS 13A.010(14):

(b) The methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:

there is no fee changes or added costs.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Board of Physical Therapy

(Amendment)

201 KAR 22:010.Objectives of physical therapy.

RELATES TO:

KRS 327.010

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

KRS 327.040

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT:

This is to certify that this administrative regulation complies with the requirements of 2025 RS HB 6, Section 8.

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:

Section 1.

Goals of the patient-physical therapy team include, but are not limited to, maintaining health, preserving functional capacity, and in the presence of impairment, developing or reestablishing function through carefully planned, and implemented programs. In order to reach these objectives, the physical therapist provides consultation, evaluates patients, identifies problems, plans programs, and provides direct treatment.

Section 2.

Patient Management. Adequate, effective, and efficient patient care is the ultimate goal of physical therapy. The physical therapist evaluates each patient, and determines those ways in which they can contribute to total health management. The physical therapist then plans and implements a treatment program, reevaluating and making modifications as necessary. A physical therapist shall refer to the appropriate licensed healthcare professional any patient whose medical condition should, at the time of evaluation or treatment, be determined to be beyond the scope of practice of the physical therapist. When basis for treatment is referral, the physical therapist may confer with the referring licensed healthcare professional.