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Referenced Laws
42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3)(D)
42 U.S.C. 254e
42 U.S.C. 254l–1
42 U.S.C. 254b–2(b)(2)(K)
42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)
Section 1
1. Short title; findings This Act may be cited as the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025. Congress finds as follows: Physical therapists play an important role in the prevention, treatment, or management of pain for individuals, including those with substance use disorders, or at risk of developing a substance use disorder. Physical therapists are also playing an important role in the physical rehabilitation needs of individuals who have developed chronic health conditions as a result of COVID–19. Physical therapist services are an essential component of the multidisciplinary undertaking that will be required to improve patient access and outcomes in medically underserved areas.
Section 2
2. National Health Service Corps; participation of physical therapists in loan repayment program Section 331(a)(3)(D) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3)(D)) is amended by striking or mental health, and inserting mental health, or physical therapy,. Section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall carry out a program of— identifying physical therapy health professional target areas; and assigning members of the Corps who are physical therapists to such areas. The provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (6) of subsection (k) shall apply to the identification of physical therapy health professional target areas and the assignment of physical therapists under this subsection except that— references to maternity care health professional target areas shall be treated as references to physical therapy health professional target areas; and references to maternity care health professionals and maternity care shall be treated as references to physical therapists and physical therapy, respectively. Section 338B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1) is amended— in subsection (a)(1), by inserting physical therapists, after dentists,; in subsection (b)— by striking (1)(A) have a degree in and all that follows through the end of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) and inserting the following: have a degree in medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or another health profession, or an appropriate degree from a graduate program of behavioral and mental health; be certified as a nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant; or have a doctoral or master’s degree in physical therapy; in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting physical therapy, after mental health,; and in paragraph (1)(C)(ii), by inserting physical therapy, after dentistry,; and by adding at the end the following: Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any health care professional who is eligible to participate in the program under this section from participating in any other loan repayment program established by the Secretary for which such professional is eligible. (l)Physical therapy health professional target areas (1)In generalThe Secretary shall carry out a program of—
(A)identifying physical therapy health professional target areas; and (B)assigning members of the Corps who are physical therapists to such areas.
(2)Applicable provisionsThe provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (6) of subsection (k) shall apply to the identification of physical therapy health professional target areas and the assignment of physical therapists under this subsection except that— (A)references to maternity care health professional target areas shall be treated as references to physical therapy health professional target areas; and
(B)references to maternity care health professionals and maternity care shall be treated as references to physical therapists and physical therapy, respectively.. (1) (A) (i)have a degree in medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or another health profession, or an appropriate degree from a graduate program of behavioral and mental health;
(ii)be certified as a nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant; or (iii)have a doctoral or master’s degree in physical therapy;; (i)Eligibility to participate in other programsNothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any health care professional who is eligible to participate in the program under this section from participating in any other loan repayment program established by the Secretary for which such professional is eligible..
Section 3
3. Additional funding for participation of physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program Section 10503(b)(2)(K) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b–2(b)(2)(K)) is amended— by striking $172,972,603 and inserting $187,972,603; and by inserting before the period at the end the following: , provided that of such amount the Secretary shall use not less than $15,000,000 for making loan repayments for physical therapists participating in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program under section 338B of the Public Health Service Act.
Section 4
4. Expanding Medicare Rural Health Clinic Services and Federally Qualified Health Center Services to include physical therapy services Section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)) is amended— in paragraph (1)— in subparagraph (C), by striking at the end and; in subparagraph (D), by adding and at the end; and by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph: such physical therapy services (as defined in subsection (p)) furnished by a physical therapist, in paragraph (3)(A), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (D) and inserting subparagraphs (A) through (E). The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027. (E)such physical therapy services (as defined in subsection (p)) furnished by a physical therapist,; and