645—201.1(148A,272C) Code of ethics for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.
	201.1(1) Physical therapy. The practice of physical therapy shall minimally consist of:
	a. 	Interpreting all referrals;
	b. 	Evaluating each patient;
	c. 	Identifying and documenting individual patient’s problems and goals;
	d. 	Establishing and documenting a plan of care;
	e. 	Providing appropriate treatment;
	f. 	Determining the appropriate portions of the treatment program to be delegated to assistive personnel;
	g. 	Appropriately supervising individuals as described in rule 645—201.4(272C);
	h. 	Providing timely patient reevaluation;
	i. 	Maintaining timely and adequate patient records of all physical therapy activity and patient responses consistent with the standards found in rule 645—201.2(147).
	201.1(2) A physical therapist shall:
	a. 	Not practice outside the scope of the license;
	b. 	Inform a referring practitioner when any requested treatment procedure is inadvisable or contraindicated and shall refuse to carry out such orders;
	c. 	Not continue treatment beyond the point of possible benefit to the patient or treat a patient more frequently than necessary to obtain maximum therapeutic effect;
	d. 	Not directly or indirectly request, receive, or participate in the dividing, transferring, assigning, rebating, or refunding of an unearned fee;
	e. 	Not profit by means of credit or other valuable consideration as an unearned commission, discount, or gratuity in connection with the furnishing of physical therapy services;
	f. 	Not obtain third-party payment through fraudulent means. Third-party payers include, but are not limited to, insurance companies and government reimbursement programs. Obtaining payment through fraudulent means includes but is not limited to:
	(1)	Reporting incorrect treatment dates for the purpose of obtaining payment;
	(2)	Reporting charges for services not rendered;
	(3)	Incorrectly reporting services rendered for the purpose of obtaining payment that is greater than that to which the licensee is entitled; or
	(4)	Aiding a patient in fraudulently obtaining payment from a third-party payer;
	g. 	Not exercise undue influence on patients to purchase equipment, products, or supplies from a company in which the physical therapist owns stock or has any other direct or indirect financial interest;
	h. 	Not permit another person to use the therapist’s license for any purpose;
	i. 	Not verbally or physically abuse a patient or client;
	j. 	Not engage in sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct includes the following:
	(1)	Engaging in or soliciting a sexual relationship, whether consensual or nonconsensual, with a patient or client;
	(2)	Making sexual advances, requesting sexual favors, or engaging in other verbal conduct or physical contact of a sexual nature with a patient or client;
	k. 	Adequately supervise personnel in accordance with the standards for supervision found in rule 645—201.4(272C);
	l. 	Assist in identifying a professionally qualified licensed practitioner to perform the service, in the event that the physical therapist does not possess the skill to evaluate a patient, plan the treatment program, or carry out the treatment.
	201.1(3) Physical therapist assistants. A physical therapist assistant shall:
	a. 	Not practice outside the scope of the license;
	b. 	Not obtain third-party payment through fraudulent means. Third-party payers include but are not limited to insurance companies and government reimbursement programs. Obtaining payment through fraudulent means includes but is not limited to:
	(1)	Reporting incorrect treatment dates for the purpose of obtaining payment;
	(2)	Reporting charges for services not rendered;
	(3)	Incorrectly reporting services rendered for the purpose of obtaining payment that is greater than that to which the licensee is entitled; or
	(4)	Aiding a patient in fraudulently obtaining payment from a third-party payer;
	c. 	Not exercise undue influence on patients to purchase equipment, products, or supplies from a company in which the physical therapist assistant owns stock or has any other direct or indirect financial interest;
	d. 	Not permit another person to use the physical therapist’s or physical therapist assistant’s license for any purpose;
	e. 	Not verbally or physically abuse a patient or client;
	f. 	Not engage in sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct includes the following:
	(1)	Engaging in or soliciting a sexual relationship, whether consensual or nonconsensual, with a patient or client; and
	(2)	Making sexual advances, requesting sexual favors, or engaging in other verbal conduct or physical contact of a sexual nature with a patient or client;
	g. 	Work only when supervised by a physical therapist and in accordance with rule 645—201.4(272C). If the available supervision does not meet the standards in rule 645—201.4(272C), the physical therapist assistant shall refuse to administer treatment;
	h. 	Inform the delegating physical therapist when the physical therapist assistant does not possess the skills or knowledge to perform the delegated tasks, and refuse to perform the delegated tasks;
	i. 	Sign the physical therapy treatment record to indicate that the physical therapy services were provided in accordance with the rules and regulations for practicing as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
[ARC 7979C, IAB 5/15/24, effective 7/1/24]