Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative DeGette
Introduced
Summary
Expand access to physical therapy in medically underserved communities by bringing physical therapists into federal loan-repayment and community health center payment programs. The bill would boost the PT workforce and reimburse PT services at rural clinics and health centers to improve pain care, rehabilitation, and long-term COVID recovery.
Show full summary
- Patients and families: Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers would be able to offer and be reimbursed for physical therapy services defined under the statute, with coverage applying to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.
- Physical therapists and the workforce: Physical therapists would become explicitly eligible for the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program, with a new PT-focused targeting and placement stream and a clear rule that NHSC participation does not prevent joining other Secretary-sponsored loan-repayment programs.
- Program funding and public health focus: The bill raises funding for the NHSC loan repayment program and requires at least $15 million of the increased amount be reserved for PT loan repayments, citing PT roles in pain prevention, substance-use-related care, and long COVID rehabilitation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Medicare PT at rural and community clinics
If enacted, Medicare would cover physical therapy services at Rural Health Clinics and community health centers. This would apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027. If you get care at these clinics, you could have more therapy covered and may pay less out of pocket.
More loan help for physical therapists
If enacted, physical therapists could join National Health Service Corps loan repayment. Health and Human Services would identify physical therapy shortage areas and place NHSC physical therapists there. Joining NHSC would not block you from other HHS loan repayment programs you qualify for. The bill would raise a funding line to about $188 million and reserve at least $15 million for PT loan repayment. These changes would start upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
DeGette
CO • D
Cosponsors
Griffith
VA • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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