Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced
Summary
Allows physical therapists to use locum tenens under Medicare for outpatient physical therapy services. It would extend the Medicare locum tenens rules now used for physicians to outpatient physical therapy services and therapists, applying the same subparagraph (D) framework to those services after enactment.
Show full summary
- Patients (Medicare beneficiaries): Would face fewer interruptions in outpatient physical therapy when a clinician is temporarily absent. This helps keep therapy schedules and progress on track.
- Physical therapists and clinics: Would be able to engage temporary locum tenens therapists to cover short-term staffing gaps, making it easier to maintain access to outpatient care.
- Medicare administration: Treats outpatient physical therapy services and therapists the same as physicians for locum tenens billing and coverage under 42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6).
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Allow temporary coverage for Medicare physical therapy
If enacted, Medicare would allow physical therapists to use locum tenens for outpatient physical therapy services. That could reduce interruptions in care for Medicare beneficiaries. The change would apply to services furnished after the date of enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Cosponsors
John Boozman
AR • R
Sponsored 7/9/2025
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
ND • R
Sponsored 7/9/2025
Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
IA • R
Sponsored 7/9/2025
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 7/31/2025
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 1/14/2026
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov