New Mexico Register / Volume XXIX,
Issue 23 / December 11, 2018
PUBLIC RULE
HEARING AND REGULAR BOARD MEETING
The
New Mexico Physical Therapy Board will hold a rule hearing on Friday, January
11, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. Following the rule hearing, the Board will convene a
board meeting to adopt the rules and take care of regular business. The rule hearing and board meeting will be
held at the Regulation and Licensing Department, 2550 Cerrillos, Road 2nd
Floor, Santa Fe, NM, in the Rio Grande Conference Room.
The
purpose of the rule hearing is to consider proposed amendments to the following
rules:
16.20.2 NMAC- Examinations
16.20.3 NMAC- Issuance of Licenses
16.20.4 NMAC- Temporary License
16.20.6 NMAC - Physical Therapist Assistance
16.20.7 NMAC - Physical Therapist Supervision
16.20.13 NMAC – (New Part) Dry Needling Provision
To
obtain and review copies of the proposed changes you may go to the Board’s
website at: http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Physical_Therapy_Rules_and_Laws.aspx, or contact the
Boards and Commissions Division at 505.476.4622.
The
Board is currently accepting public comments on the proposed amendments. Please submit written comments on the
proposed changes to Cynthia Lyons, Board Administrator, via electronic mail at:
Physicaltherapy@state.nm.us ,or by regular mail at P.O. Box 25101,
Santa Fe, NM 87504 no later than Thursday, January 10, 2019. Comments will be posted to the RLD website
at: http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Physical_Therapy_Rules_and_Laws.aspx. Persons will
also be given the opportunity to present their comments at the rule hearing.
An individual with a disability who is
in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or other
form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing,
please contact Cynthia Lyons, Board Administrator 505.476.4622.
Statutory
Authority: Legal authority
for this rulemaking can be found in the Physical Therapy Act, NMSA 1978
Sections 61-12D-1 through -12D19 which, among other provisions, specifically
authorizes the Board to “adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of
the Physical Therapy Act.” Section 61-12D-5, NMSA 1978.
Summary of
Proposed Changes:
16.20.2 NMAC -
Physical Therapists
Add
language to clarify how many times an applicant may sit for the NPTE in a
12-month period based on the requirements of the testing agency. Add new
“Subsection 11” which will provide applicants with an alternate method to
apply for the FSBPT national licensure exam. With this method, the applicant
does not need to apply with the State of New Mexico until they have passed the
national exam.
16.20.3 NMAC - Issuance of Licenses
Language change
is to correct a grammatical error and adds new subsections to Section 8 which will be
added to include criminal background checks per the requirements necessary to
set up a Compact for licensure through the Federation of State Boards of
Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
16.20.4 NMAC – Temporary Licenses
Correction of grammatical errors.
16.20.6 NMAC – Physical Therapist
Assistants
Correction of grammatical errors.
16.20.7 NMAC Supervision
Clarify the use of both the physical
therapist and physical therapist assistant, providing supervision of unlicensed
aides.
16.20.13 NMAC – Dry Needling
Provision (New Part)
This
new part is added to clarify the practice of “dry needling” in the State of New
Mexico. The procedure is allowed within
the scope of practice for a physical therapist and is supported by the American
Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Federation of State Boards for
Physical Therapy (FSBPT). This new part will clarify the procedure to obtain
certification required when providing dry needling services in the State of New
Mexico.