PTAs in Michigan
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has received several inquiries regarding license regulations for Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) in Michigan. Please review the following information and the regulation below for answers to your questions. Section 484.4 is interpreted as follows:
PTA graduates who met the requirement for graduation from a 2-year, college-level, APTA-approved program prior to 1/1/2008 are qualified under the provision in the regulation 484.4 under Physical Therapist Assistant, clause (c). They are not required to meet the qualifications for education and testing in clause (a). In Michigan a license is not required until 2011, and there are no other state regulations in effect. Therefore, those who meet the requirements in (c) continue to be qualified personnel under the Medicare program until the license is required. When the state implements their administrative rules for licensure, Medicare will also require licensure in addition to the qualifications in clause (c).
Those who were granted a limited licensed or a license on or before 12/31/2009 are qualified under clause (b)(1) and do not need to meet the requirements in (a).
Those who graduated from a 2-year, college-level, APTA-approved program between 1/1/2008 and 12/31/2009 in Michigan (a state that did not license or regulate PTAs during that time) were allowed to provide supervised Medicare services based on their educational qualifications alone until 1/1/2010, at which time they must also have passed the national exam according to the requirement at (b)(2).
Those who qualified as a PTA on or before 12/31/1977 and passed an exam conducted, approved, or sponsored by the US Public Health Service also qualify now without meeting the requirements in (a).
The current requirements at (a)(1) and (a)(2) are for both education from an approved curriculum and passage of a national exam. This applies to all who don't meet the other requirements.
Following is the text of the code at 42 CFR 484.4
§ 484.4 Personnel qualifications.
Staff required to meet the conditions set forth in this part are staff who meet the qualifications specified in this section.
Physical therapist assistant. A person who is licensed, unless licensure does not apply, registered, or certified as a physical therapist assistant, if applicable, by the State in which practicing, and meets one of the following requirements:
(a)(1) Graduated from a physical therapist assistant curriculum approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association; or if educated outside the United States or trained in the United States military, graduated from an education program determined to be substantially equivalent to physical therapist assistant entry level education in the United States by a credentials evaluation organization approved by the American Physical Therapy Association or identified at 8 CFR 212.15(e); and
(2) Passed a national examination for physical therapist assistants.(b) On or before December 31, 2009, meets one of the following:
(1) Is licensed, or otherwise regulated in the State in which practicing.(c) Before January 1, 2008, where licensure or other regulation does not apply, graduated from a 2-year college-level program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association.
(2) In States where licensure or other regulations do not apply, graduated on or before December 31, 2009, from a 2-year college-level program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association and, effective January 1, 2010 meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this definition.
(d) On or before December 31, 1977, was licensed or qualified as a physical therapist assistant and has achieved a satisfactory grade on a proficiency examination conducted, approved, or sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service.
For additional information, please review the "Legislative Update" on the Michigan Physical Therapy Associations Website
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Page Last Updated: Thursday, 15-Jul-2010 09:54:44 CDT
