Senate committee pauses bill that would require in‑person initial visits for physical therapy telehealth

Senators in the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee paused consideration of House Bill 17‑05 after a contentious exchange over whether physical therapists should be required to perform an in‑person initial evaluation before providing telehealth follow‑ups.

Senator Clint Pinto, running HB 17‑05, told the committee that physical therapy is “by definition a physical, hands‑on profession” and that many patients require a physical assessment that cannot be done remotely. Bill Taylor, who testified with Pinto, said some balance and strength tests must be performed in person to ensure patient safety and avoid falls.

The president of the Arkansas Physical Therapy Association said members had requested the bill and that, while telemedicine can be useful, “as a therapist of 25 plus years, I would never think to see a patient without seeing them at least one visit in person.” Supporters argued an in‑person baseline protects clinical decision‑making and patient safety.

Senator Dan Sullivan and other members pushed back, noting that other licensed professions have more permissive telehealth rules and questioning the data showing in‑person requirements lead to better outcomes. Sullivan asked whether the proposed requirement would be a mandate on all clinicians or merely a practice option.

After discussion, the chair called for a vote; the clerk reported only three affirmative votes, short of the number needed to pass the motion, and the committee postponed the item for further consideration.

The bill’s sponsor said he had been “overruled by the legislature” in prior policy changes but argued for consistency and public‑safety protections. The committee did not adopt a final rule and will revisit the measure when a quorum and adequate votes can be secured.

Next steps: HB 17‑05 was postponed after the first vote showed insufficient yes votes; the sponsor indicated he would return the bill for another hearing or vote later.