Why the MMA opposes unlimited access to PTs

The MMA uses these talking points to oppose efforts to eliminate physicians from the straem of care:

Unlimited access could result in a physical therapist treating a patient indefinitely without a doctor ever diagnosing what is wrong with the patient.

If the law changes, a patient could receive indefinite treatment for back pain from a physical therapist without ever having someone who is qualified diagnose whether the back pain is being caused by malignancies in the spinal column; kidney tumors; a diseased pancreas; hip pain, which is often confused with low back pain; or even vascular problems.

While physical therapists are well trained within their scope of practice to treat muscular skeletal conditions, they are not trained to perform medical diagnoses or order diagnostic X-rays. In fact, they are prohibited in statute from performing medical diagnoses.

There are 33 other states that prohibit physical therapists from treating patients without some form of physician involvement.