Bills would allow alternative med providers to treat injured workers

Bills that would allow acupuncturists, occupational therapy assistants and physical therapist assistants to treat injured workers are back before New York lawmakers this year, as is a bill that would allow clinical social workers to provide services that would be covered by comp.

Companion measures S.B. 5129 and A.B. 1055 would authorize occupational therapy assistants and physical therapist assistants to treat workers compensation injuries. The bills would require that the assistants operate under the direct supervision of a therapist to treat injured workers.

The Senate Labor Committee in March 2021 voted 13-0 to pass S.B. 5129, but the measure was never called for a third and final vote; it was referred back to the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday. A.B. 1055, which was not voted on by a committee last year, was referred to the Assembly Labor Committee on the same day.

A pair of bills A.B. 1012 and A.B. 3407 that would authorize licensed or certified acupuncturists to treat injured workers were also referred to the Assembly Labor Committee on Wednesday.

Both, also introduced in 2021, never received a committee vote in 2021.

Finally, A.B. 1589 would allow licensed clinical social workers to treat injured workers upon the referral of an authorized physician. The bill was referred to the Assembly Labor Committee on Wednesday. The committee did not vote on the measure last year.

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