Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025
The Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025 aims to expand access to physical therapy services in underserved areas by integrating physical therapists into existing federal healthcare workforce programs. The bill adds physical therapists to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, which helps recruit healthcare professionals to work in medically underserved communities by repaying their student loans. Additionally, it expands Medicare coverage to include physical therapy services at Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers. The legislation recognizes the important role physical therapists play in pain management, substance use disorder treatment, and rehabilitation for patients with chronic conditions, including those resulting from COVID-19.
Key Points
- 1Adds physical therapists to the National Health Service Corps, making them eligible for the loan repayment program that helps recruit healthcare professionals to underserved areas
- 2Creates "physical therapy health professional target areas" to identify regions with shortages of physical therapy services and assign Corps members accordingly
- 3Allocates $15 million in additional funding specifically for physical therapist loan repayments within the existing National Health Service Corps budget
- 4Expands Medicare coverage to include physical therapy services at Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, effective January 1, 2027
- 5Recognizes physical therapists' role in pain management, substance use disorder treatment, and COVID-19 rehabilitation as essential primary health services