Alabama § 34-25A-4 - Referral and Consultation Limits.

§ 34-25A-4. Referral and Consultation Limits.

(a) A licensed prosthetist, licensed orthotist, or licensed prosthetist/orthotist may provide services utilizing new prostheses or orthoses for which he or she is licensed and only under a written order from an authorized health care practitioner. A consultation with and periodic review by an authorized health care practitioner is not required for the evaluation, repair, adjusting, or servicing of a prosthesis by a licensed prosthetist, or licensed prosthetist/orthotist and for the evaluation, repair, adjusting, or servicing of an orthosis by a licensed orthotist, or licensed prosthetist/orthotist; nor is an order from an authorized health care practitioner required for maintenance or replacement of an orthosis or prosthesis to the level of its original prescription for an indefinite period of time if the original order remains appropriate for the patient’s medical needs.

(b) Prosthetists and orthotists must refer persons receiving service to authorized health care practitioners if they have reasonable cause to believe symptoms or conditions are present that require services beyond the scope of their practice or for which the prescribed prosthetic or orthotic service is contraindicated.

(c) An orthotic supplier may engage in one or more of the following: Evaluating, measuring, designing, fabricating, assembling, fitting, adjusting, servicing, repairing, replacing, or delivering orthoses. An orthotic supplier may provide orthoses in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, physician’s offices, physician’s clinics, or other sites as required. An orthotic supplier shall provide orthoses based on a written prescription from an authorized health care practitioner and under the supervision of such authorized health care practitioner.

(d) No person licensed under this chapter shall provide services to a patient without being in the physical presence of the patient.