TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
Initial Agency Notice
Title of Regulation: 18VAC112-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Physical Therapy.
Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3474 of the Code of Virginia.
Name of Petitioner: Michael Schultz.
Nature of Petitioner's Request: The petitioner requests that the Board of Physical Therapy amend its regulations to (i) prohibit physical therapists and physical therapy assistants from refusing to provide physical therapy to patients or prospective patients if those individuals or their accompanying representatives refuse to wear masks; (ii) prohibit physical therapists and physical therapy assistants from enforcing any requirements for patients, prospective patients, or patient representatives to wear masks to receive physical therapy, including when following policies of insurers or organizations or when following guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local health departments, or the Virginia Department of Health; (iii) prohibit physical therapists and physical therapy assistants from refusing to provide physical therapy to any patient or prospective patient based on the vaccination status of the patient or patient representative for any COVID-19 vaccine or for any other vaccine under Emergency Use Authorization status or full approval status by the Food and Drug Administration; (iv) prohibit physical therapists and physical therapy assistants from refusing to provide physical therapy to any patient or prospective patient who refuses to disclose whether they have received any vaccine, including any COVID-19 vaccine; and (v) institute a specific complaint and disciplinary procedure under the regulations of the Board of Physical Therapy for any conduct prohibited by clauses (i) through (iv).
Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: The petition for rulemaking will be published in the Virginia Register of Regulations on April 25, 2022. The petition will also be published on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall at www.townhall.virginia.gov to receive public comment, which will open on April 25, 2022, and close on May 25, 2022. The board will consider the petition and all comments in support or opposition at the next meeting after the close of public comment, August 9, 2022. The petitioner will be notified of the board's decision after that meeting.
Public Comment Deadline: May 25, 2022.
Agency Contact: Corie Tillman Wolf, Executive Director, Board of Physical Therapy, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4674, or email ptboard@dhp.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. PFR22-30; Filed April 6, 2022, 11:55 a.m.
BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Initial Agency Notice
Title of Regulation: 18VAC150-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine.
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Name of Petitioner: Amber J. Lee.
Nature of Petitioner's Request: The petitioner requests that the Board of Veterinary Medicine amend 18VAC150-20-121, which provides requirements for licensure by endorsement of veterinary technicians, to remove subdivision 2 of 18VAC150-20-121 in order to accommodate technicians from other jurisdictions who may have been out of the workforce for an extended period of time.
Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: The petition for rulemaking will be published in the Virginia Register of Regulations on April 25, 2022. The petition will also be published on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall to receive public comment, which will open on April 25, 2022, and close on May 25, 2022. The board will consider the petition and all comments in support or opposition at the next meeting after the close of public comment, June 28, 2022. The petitioner will be notified of the board's decision after that meeting.
Public Comment Deadline: May 25, 2022.
Agency Contact: Leslie L. Knachel, Executive Director, Board of Veterinary Medicine, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 597-4130, or email leslie.knachel@dhp.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. PFR22-29; Filed March 24, 2022, 9:07 a.m.