Health occupations: physical therapists; prescription requirement for physical therapy treatment; eliminate, and make other modifications to the practice of physical therapy. Amends secs. 17801, 17820, 17822, 17824 & 17825 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17801 et seq.) & adds sec. 17825a.
Key claim: Michigan SB0144 proposes to eliminate the prescription requirement for physical therapy treatment and make other modifications to the practice of physical therapy under the Public Health Code.
Abstract
(SB0144 · 103rd Legislature) Health occupations: physical therapists; prescription requirement for physical therapy treatment; eliminate, and make other modifications to the practice of physical therapy. Amends secs. 17801, 17820, 17822, 17824 & 17825 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17801 et seq.) & adds sec. 17825a. Latest action (2026-06-24): Referred To Second Reading
Why this matters
Eliminating the prescription requirement would give Michigan patients direct access to physical therapists without first securing a physician referral, potentially lowering cost and access barriers to care while expanding the effective scope of practice for licensed PTs. For employers and insurers, direct access can shift utilization patterns and referral economics; for the PT profession, it aligns Michigan with the majority of states that already permit some form of direct access. Paired with the pending PT Licensure Compact bills, it represents a broader modernization of the state’s physical therapy regulatory framework.