Petition Summary
Californians deserve faster access, safer care, and a modern system that reflects how healthcare is practiced today. Physical therapists are highly trained experts in musculoskeletal health, yet outdated laws prevent them from practicing to the full extent of their education and training. AB 2497 is a common-sense update that will improve access to care, reduce delays, and lower costs for patients across the state.

Why This Matters
Every day, patients in California experience unnecessary barriers to care:

• Delays in diagnosis and treatment due to outdated referral requirements.
• Increased healthcare costs from avoidable physician visits and imaging bottlenecks.
• Limited access to evidence-based treatments that are already widely used in other states.
• At the same time, physical therapists are trained at the doctoral level and are already functioning as first-contact providers for musculoskeletal conditions in many parts of the country.

What AB 2497 Does
AB 2497 modernizes physical therapy practice by allowing licensed physical therapists to:

• Perform Dry Needling
  Dry needling is a safe, evidence-based technique used to relieve pain and improve function. It is already permitted in the majority of U.S. states and is a critical tool for treating musculoskeletal conditions.
• Order Imaging When Clinically Appropriate
  Allowing PTs to order imaging (like X-rays or MRIs) reduces delays in care, speeds up diagnosis, and helps patients get the right treatment sooner.
• Utilize Diagnostic Ultrasound
  Enables PTs to better evaluate and monitor musculoskeletal conditions in real time, improving precision and outcomes.
• Prescribe Certain Non-Opioid Medications
  Limited authority to prescribe non-opioid analgesics and anti-inflammatories allows PTs to better manage pain safely and reduce reliance on opioids.
• Strengthen the Role of PTs in the Care Team
  Recognizes physical therapists as key providers in managing musculoskeletal health, improving coordination and patient outcomes.

Why This Is Safe and Necessary
Physical therapists complete extensive doctoral-level education and clinical training
These practices are already safely implemented in many other states
Modernizing scope improves access without compromising safety

The Bottom Line
AB 2497 is about putting patients first:

• Faster access to care.
• Lower healthcare costs.
• Better outcomes.
• Reduced reliance on opioids.

California should not lag behind the rest of the country. It’s time to modernize physical therapy and empower providers to deliver the care patients need—when they need it.

Take Action
Sign this petition to urge lawmakers to support AB 2497 and bring California’s physical therapy laws into the modern era.

Patients deserve better. Let’s make it happen.

👉 Visit CPTA’s Yes on AB2497 page for more information on how to support this important legislation.

👉 Visit the CAL PT PAC page for more information on how to get involved with CPTA advocacy.

* The donation link is generated by Change.org, not by California Physical Therapy Association. The donation goes directly to Change.org.