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HB 197

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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Johnson

Louisiana bill expands medical malpractice liability to cover physical therapist and occupational therapist assistants, enabling patient lawsuits for negligence against these healthcare paraprofessionals.

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
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Bill Summary · HB 197

Legislative bill overview

HB 197 expands Louisiana's medical malpractice liability framework to explicitly include physical therapist assistants (PTAs) and occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) as healthcare providers subject to malpractice claims. Previously, malpractice law may not have clearly addressed these paraprofessional roles, creating potential gaps in patient liability protection.

Why is this important

This clarification has real-world consequences for patients seeking compensation for injuries caused by these assistants' negligence, and for the assistants themselves regarding liability exposure and insurance requirements. The change could affect healthcare costs, malpractice insurance premiums for rehabilitation clinics, and the legal landscape for a growing segment of the allied health workforce.

Potential points of contention

  • Insurance and cost implications: Clinics employing PTAs/OTAs may face higher malpractice insurance premiums, potentially increasing healthcare service costs
  • Scope of practice clarity: The bill may create ambiguity about which actions by assistants trigger malpractice liability versus supervisory liability of their supervising therapists
  • Paraprofessional workforce impact: Expanded liability exposure could increase hiring costs and training requirements, affecting workforce availability and rural healthcare access

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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