MINNEAPOLIS, Updated 3:49 p.m. CST April 6, 2006 -- A bill (SF 637) significantly expanding physical therapists’ scope of practice passed the Senate Health and Family Security Committee Tuesday.

That means that versions of the bill have made it through the committee process in both the House and Senate and are eligible to be voted on by both bodies.

The bills propose eliminating the current prohibition against providing physical therapy after an initial 30-day period without a physician's referral.

Jim House, M.D., testified before the Senate Committee on behalf of the Minnesota Orthopedic Society and the MMA in opposition to the bill.

Nearly 100 physicians also sent e-mails to members of the Senate committee urging them to vote against the bill via the MMA’s action alert system.

The MMA opposes this legislation based on patient safety concerns.

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

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, Thorson said during his testimony.

The full bodies of the Senate and the House may vote on the bills as early as the next work week, April 10-14. Click here to send your legislators an e-mail urging them to vote against the bills.