HB1705

House Bill 1705 seeks to amend the Arkansas Telemedicine Act to impose specific requirements on how professional relationships are established in the context of physical therapy. The bill mandates that a professional relationship for physical therapy services can only be established if the healthcare professional conducts an in-person examination of the patient. This requirement effectively restricts the use of telemedicine for the initial establishment of care within physical therapy practices. By modifying the existing statute, the bill ensures that physical therapists must see patients face-to-face before providing services remotely. The primary objective is to clarify and codify the standard of care for initiating physical therapy treatment in the state.