MALPRACTICE/MEDICAL: Expands application of medical malpractice to include physical therapist assistants and occupational therapist assistants

HB 197 expands the scope of medical malpractice law to include physical therapist assistants (PTAs) and occupational therapist assistants (OTAs). The bill directly affects these healthcare professionals by subjecting them to the same malpractice standards currently applied to licensed therapists. Key provisions clarify that existing malpractice laws will now cover PTAs and OTAs when they provide care within their scope of practice. This is a technical adjustment to the legal definition, not a new standard or policy change. The bill is currently pending in the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.