By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A bill that meant a little more than the normal legislation carried by St. Joseph state Rep. Brenda Shields has been signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson.
Shields carried Senate Bill 51 in the House and saw it pass the legislature and head to the governor’s desk.
The measure allows Missourians to seek physical therapy without consulting a doctor first.
Shields says she was pleased the bill made it to Gov. Parson’s desk before the last hectic weeks of the legislative session.
“I am excited that the legislature was able to get this passed several weeks before the craziness of the last two weeks of session and that we were able to be able to provide for patients in this state the opportunity to choose, if they want to choose, to visit a physical therapist first,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
The bill does contain safeguards. It requires the physical therapist to consult with a doctor after the patient has completed 10 visits or it has been 30 days since first starting physical therapy.
Shields says the current requirement to get a referral can delay needed care.
The bill signing in Gov. Parson’s office in the state Capitol took a personal turn for Shields. She got to share the moment with the physical therapist she credits with giving her back her life, Ben Perkins.
“Unfortunately, seven years ago I suffered a stroke and I was under the care of a physical therapist as well as a speech and occupational therapist and I was able to have my physical therapist that really kind of managed my care throughout my recovery with me on the day of the bill signing and that was incredibly special.”
Shields says she learned through that tragedy the value of what a physical therapist does as well as the value of the work of occupational and speech therapists.
