Chiropractor licensure-amendments.

2015
STATE OF WYOMING
15LSO-0333
Numbered
2.1

SENATE FILE

NO.
SF0061

Chiropractor licensure-amendments.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Geis

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to chiropractic physicians; changing the title of chiropractic practitioners from "chiropractor" to "chiropractic physician"; conforming related statutory references; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 33
‑
10
‑
101
, 33
‑
10
‑
102, 33
‑
10
‑
103, 33
‑
10
‑
105(c)
and (d)
(intro), 33
‑
10
‑
109, 33
‑
10
‑
113(a) and (c), 33
‑
10
‑
117,
33
‑
12
‑
140
(a) and

33
‑
25
‑
102
(c)(intro) and (e)
(ii)

are amended to read:

CHAPTER 10
CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN
S

33
‑
10
‑
101
.

Chiropractic defined.

Chiropractic is the system of specific adjustment or manipulation of the joints and tissues of the body and the treatment of the human body by the application of manipulative, manual, mechanical, physiotherapeutic or clinical nutritional methods for which those persons licensed under this chapter are trained and may include venipuncture, acupuncture and the use of diagnostic x
‑
rays with rights for referral for advanced diagnostic imaging. A
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

may examine, diagnose and treat patients provided, however,
chiropractors
chiropractic physicians

shall not perform surgery, direct the use of or administer drugs required by law to be dispensed on prescription only, practice obstetrics or prescribe or administer x
‑
ray therapy. For purposes of this act,
"
venipuncture
"
means the puncture of the vein for the withdrawal of blood.

33
‑
10
‑
102
.

Board of chiropractic examiners; established; composition; qualifications of members.

There is hereby created and established a board to be known as the state board of chiropractic examiners, which shall
be composed of one (1) member of the public at large and four (4) practicing
chiropractors
chiropractic physician
s

of integrity and ability, who shall be residents of the state of Wyoming, who shall have practiced chiropractic continuously in the state of Wyoming for a period of at least three (3) years and who shall have a diploma from an accredited chiropractic school or college.

33
‑
10
‑
103
.

Board of chiropractic examiners; appointment; term; qualifications; vacancies; removal.

The governor shall appoint four (4) practicing

chiropractors

chiropractic physicians
, who shall possess the qualifications specified in W.S. 33
‑
10
‑
102, and one (1) citizen from the public at large to constitute the membership of the board. Members shall be appointed to a term of four (4) years, except that initial terms of
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

members shall be staggered so that annually thereafter the governor shall appoint one (1)
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

member. The governor shall fill all vacancies occurring in the board. The governor may remove any board member as provided in W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
202.

33
‑
10
‑
105
.

License required.

(c)

The board pursuant to its rules and regulations may issue a temporary license to an applicant who is licensed or certified by a board of chiropractic of another United States state or territory, or of a foreign country or province whose standards are equal to or exceed the requirements for licensure as a
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

in this state.

(d)

No business entity organized under title 17 of the Wyoming statutes shall employ or contract with a
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

to provide chiropractic services unless fifty
‑
one percent (51%) of the equity in the entity is owned by persons, and the spouses of persons, licensed pursuant to title 33, chapter 9, 10 or 26 of the Wyoming statutes. This subsection shall not apply to:

33
‑
10
‑
109
.

Title of practitioners.

Chiropractors
Chiropractic physicians

licensed under this act shall have the right to practice chiropractic in
accordance with the method taught in the chiropractic schools and colleges recognized by the chiropractic board of examiners of this state. If a
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

chooses to use the prefix
"
Dr.
"
or
"
doctor
"
on any display sign before the name of the practitioner, the display shall also include the title
"
doctor of chiropractic,
"

"
chiropractic physician
,
"

"
chiropractor,
"

"
D.C.
"
or the equivalent.

33
‑
10
‑
113
.

Prerequisite for renewal of license; board
'
s power to make regulations; fees.

(a)

Each
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

shall, as a prerequisite to annual license renewal, submit as a part of the renewal application satisfactory evidence of having completed the continuing education requirements established by the board in its rules and regulations.

(c)

All persons practicing chiropractic within this state shall pay on or before August 1 of each year, a renewal license fee in an amount established by the board pursuant to W.S. 33
‑
1
‑
201. If any practicing
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

fails to pay the renewal license fee
imposed by W.S. 33
‑
10
‑
101 through 33
‑
10
‑
117 within thirty (30) days after the due date, the license shall lapse. A lapsed license shall only be restored within one (1) year of expiration upon written application and payment to the board of a fee of twice the amount of the renewal fee in effect at the time the restoration application is filed.

33
‑
10
‑
117
.

Restrictions.

Nothing contained in this act shall be construed to restrain or restrict licensed or certified members of other legally recognized professions from performing services consistent with the laws of this state, provided they do not represent themselves as practicing the profession regulated under this act and do not represent themselves to be
chiropractors

chiropractic physicians
. Nothing contained in this act shall be construed to restrain or restrict the practice of venipuncture or acupuncture.

33
‑
12
‑
140
.

Exemptions.

(a)

Nothing in this act shall prohibit services rendered by licensed physicians, nurses, dentists,
podiatrists,
chiropractors

chiropractic physicians
, physical therapists, morticians or barbers when exclusively engaged in the practice of their respective professions.

33
‑
25
‑
102
.

Practice of physical therapy; license or certificate required; exceptions; false representations.

(c)

Except as provided in this subsection, a physical therapist with a master
'
s degree, or a bachelor
'
s degree with five (5) years of clinical experience may initiate physical therapy treatment for a new or recurring injury with or without a prescription from a licensed physician including doctor of osteopathy, podiatrist, advanced practitioner of nursing, dentist,
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

or physician assistant. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude a physical therapist from treating a chronic or recurring injury or condition without a prescription, provided that the patient or client was previously diagnosed and prescribed physical therapy treatment within the previous year by a health care provider identified in this subsection and the treatment is directly related to the original prescribed care. Except in an emergency, a physical therapist, without a prescription,
is prohibited from initiating physical therapy treatment for children under the age of twelve (12) years, unless the child is to receive physical therapy treatment under an individualized education program or an individualized family services plan. A physical therapist shall refer the patient or client to a licensed physician including doctor of osteopathy, podiatrist, advanced practitioner of nursing, dentist,
chiropractor
chiropractic physician

or physician assistant, as appropriate, when:

(e)

Prior to any physical therapy service, the patient or client shall be directed to posted information and delivered a handout explaining:

(ii)

That coverage may not be available through governmental or worker
'
s compensation programs unless prescribed by a physician, physician
'
s assistant, dentist,
chiropractor

chiropractic physician
, podiatrist or nurse practitioner; and

Section
2
.

This
act is effective July 1,
2015
.

(END)

1
SF0061