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Congressional Briefing
An Ounce of Prevention: The Role of Physical Therapy in Reducing Health Care Costs
On Sept. 14, APTA hosted a Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staff focused on the critical role physical therapy plays in improving patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and supporting a more sustainable Medicare program.
During the briefing, APTA members and policy experts highlighted the urgent need for Medicare payment reform and discussed legislative solutions that would strengthen the physical therapist workforce, reduce administrative burden, and help ensure patients can continue to access timely, cost-effective care.
Key Issues Discussed During the Congressional Briefing
- The impact of Medicare payment cuts on individual physical therapists, physical therapy practices, and patient access to care.
- Workforce challenges facing providers, particularly in rural and medically underserved communities.
- Legislative solutions, including the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act, and the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act.
- The growing evidence that physical therapy helps reduce disability, prevent costly downstream care, and improve health outcomes.
Key Takeaway Message
Investing in physical therapist services and preventive care can improve patient health while lowering overall healthcare costs.
Briefing Recording and Resources
Watch highlights from the briefing and learn how APTA is advancing policies that support Medicare payment reform, strengthen the physical therapist workforce, and improve patient access to care.
Video highlights coming soon…
The Economic Value of Physical Therapy in the United States
- Video: Discover the Economic Value of Physical Therapy in the United States
- The Economic Value of Physical Therapy in the United States, a report from The American Physical Therapy Association for policymakers and payers
Medicare Payment Reform Initiatives
- Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Reform: APTA urges Congress to enact meaningful reforms to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, or MPFS, to improve payment and provide stability for practices.
- The RECOVER Act (H.R. 8386): APTA-championed legislation introduced in the 119th Congress that would repeal MPPR under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
- The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act (H.R. 8163/S. 5180): APTA strongly supports this bipartisan legislation that would help stabilize and strengthen the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, ensuring fair payment rates for healthcare providers and continued access to critical healthcare professionals for Medicare beneficiaries.
Federal Student Loan Access and Reform
- APTA's position on the Department of Education rule on access to federal student loans.
- June 29 news article calling on Congress and the courts to restore fair access to federal student loans while supporting reforms to lower education costs.
Therapist-Specific Legislation
- Physical Therapy Workforce and Patient Access Act: H.R. 5621 / S. 4420: Legislation that would increase the physical therapist workforce in rural and medically underserved areas by adding physical therapists to the National Health Service Corps, or NHSC, and expand access to PT services for children and adults in federal community health centers.
- Prevent Interruptions In Physical Therapy Act (H.R. 1517 / S. 2225): Legislation that would allow physical therapists in all geographic regions of the United States to enter into locum tenens arrangements under Medicare.
- Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act, or SAFE Act (H.R. 1171 / S. 2612): Legislation that would expand and increase access to falls screening and prevention services by a physical therapist.