What does Preamble of Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026 do?

This bill, formally titled 'A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the participation of physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment program, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare Rural Health Clinic Services and Federally Qualified Health Center Services to include physical therapy services, and for other purposes.' The bill aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to allow physical therapists to participate in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment program. It also seeks to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare Rural Health Clinic Services and Federally Qualified Health Center Services to include physical therapy services.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026

What does NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS; PARTICIPATION OF PHYSICAL of Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026 do?

This section amends the Public Health Service Act to include physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. It expands the definition of primary health services to include physical therapy. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to identify physical therapy health professional target areas within health professional shortage areas based on data regarding the availability and need for physical therapy services. The Secretary must seek input from relevant provider organizations when identifying these target areas. The amendments clarify that the identification of target areas does not require an area to be designated as a health professional shortage area and does not affect eligibility for other types of health professionals. The Loan Repayment Program now includes physical therapists as eligible participants and expands the qualifications for eligibility to include those with doctoral or master's degrees in physical therapy.

What does ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PARTICIPATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPISTS IN of Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026 do?

This section amends Section 10503(b)(2)(L) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment adds an additional $15,000,000 for loan repayments. The additional funding is specifically for physical therapists participating in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. The program is administered under section 338B of the Public Health Service Act.

What does EXPANDING MEDICARE RURAL HEALTH CLINIC SERVICES AND FEDERALLY of Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026 do?

This section amends the Social Security Act to include physical therapy services The amendment adds physical therapy services to the list of services furnished by a physical therapist The changes apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027

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Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026

Last updated: 4/28/2026 · Introduced: 4/28/2026

Author: Martin Heinrich (D-NM)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill allows physical therapists to participate in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, incentivizing them to practice in underserved areas.
It provides an additional $15 million in funding specifically for loan repayments for physical therapists within the National Health Service Corps program.
The bill expands Medicare coverage to include physical therapy services provided at Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, effective January 1, 2027.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 3 more.

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