WSOA News

Washington State Orthopaedic Association wins AAOS National State Society of the Year!


THANK YOU WSOA MEMBERS!
by John Adkison, MD, WSOA President, and              
Chris Kontogianis MD, BFOA Partner, WSOA Director
The Supreme Court of Washington has now weighed in on the issue.  On March 18, 2010, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in favor of Benton Franklin Orthopedic Associates, making clear that it is legal for medical practices to employ physical therapists within their practices and to refer patients to those employee physical therapists.  In ruling in favor of Benton Franklin, the Supreme Court rejected each of the arguments that Columbia Physical Therapy had made against physician employment of physical therapists.  Specifically, the Court rejected Columbia's argument that physician owned physical therapy service is barred by the corporate practice of medicine doctrine and the Professional Service Corporation Act.  The Court also rejected Columbia's claim that Washington's anti-rebate statute bars physicians from referring patients for physical therapy furnished within a medical practice.  With respect to Columbia's claim under the anti-rebate statute, the Court also made clear that physician supervision of physical therapists is not required in order to comply with the anti-rebate statute. Read More