United StatesAdds physical therapists to NHSC loan repayment and expands Medicare coverage
This changes who can get federal loan repayment and adds physical therapy services to community clinics, affecting access and workforce distribution.
What it does
Adds "physical therapy" to the NHSC definition of primary health services.
Directs HRSA to identify "physical therapy health professional target areas" within health professional shortage areas and to publish comparative data on availability and need.
Makes physical therapists explicitly eligible for the NHSC Loan Repayment Program and updates eligibility language to include doctoral or master's degree in physical therapy.
Provides an additional $15,000,000 for loan repayments for physical therapists in the NHSC Loan Repayment Program.
Adds coverage of physical therapy services furnished by physical therapists to Medicare Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, effective January 1, 2027.
Argument forImproves access to physical therapy in underserved areas by making PTs eligible for NHSC loan repayment and by directing HRSA to place PTs in shortage subareas.
Argument againstAdds federal spending ($15M) and administrative costs for HRSA and CMS to implement data collection, target identification, and billing changes.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 28Introduced in SenateLatest
- Apr 28Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.Introduced
HealthcareMental HealthNational Security