In July, APTA and other provider groups secured a 2.5% funding increase from Congress to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2026. While this was a positive development, it is a short-term fix. For the Medicare payment system to stabilize and compensate providers fairly, major and urgent reforms are needed. Keeping the momentum and pressure on Congress to improve Medicare payment is critical.
Most importantly, Congress needs to enact a permanent annual payment update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, or MPFS, based on the rate of inflation, repeal MPPR, and reform the outdated budget neutrality policy that has been the trigger for cuts to the MPFS in recent years. The MPFS is the only Medicare payment system lacking an annual inflationary update. APTA has outlined a series of policy recommendations for Congress to enact to keep improving payment and providing stability to the Medicare fee schedule.
Will Congress Fund the Government — or Will the Government Shutdown?
The top congressional item to consider is how and to what extent to fund the federal government's operations.
On March 14, 2025, the U.S. Congress passed a continuing resolution, or CR, to extend funding for federal agencies and programs through Sept. 30. If Congress does not pass another CR by midnight on Sept. 30, current funding for the federal government will run out, leading to at least a partial government shutdown.
Telehealth Expiration Deadline Fast Approaching
Another issue waiting for Congress upon their return from the August recess is the rapidly approaching deadline that, if not addressed, could result in millions of Medicare patients losing vital coverage of telehealth visits to their preferred health care provider. Unless Congress acts by Sept. 30, the Medicare telehealth waivers enacted during the pandemic — including the authority of PTs and PTAs to serve as authorized telehealth providers — will expire.
To prevent this from happening, APTA has joined with over 350 health care organizations and patient advocacy groups in a letter to congressional leadership urging action before the scheduled expiration and to reauthorize the longest possible extension of the current Medicare telehealth policy. Concurrently, APTA is also advocating for legislation to ensure that PTs and PTAs are permanent authorized providers to provide telehealth under Medicare.
Advocacy on the SAFE Act and Falls Prevention Awareness Week
APTA continues to advocate for an expanded role of PTs in falls prevention as part of the Welcome to Medicare Visit and the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. In July, Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., introduced a Senate companion bill, S. 2612, to the APTA-supported Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act, or SAFE Act. This legislation, which is identical to H.R. 1171 introduced in the House of Representatives in February of this year, would expand access to falls screening prevention coverage in the Medicare program.
The SAFE Act will be a focus of APTA’s efforts tied to the annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week set for Sept. 22-26. The week promotes awareness, knowledge, and action to reduce fall-related injuries. Leading up to this annual event, the APTA Flash Action Strategy scheduled for Sept. 17-18 will focus on the SAFE Act and the issue of falls prevention. The Flash Action Strategy is an annual student-led campaign that unites the APTA community through advocacy where PT students take to social media and urge their respective members of Congress to support a specific bill.
APTA’s Medicare “Opt Out” Legislation in Play
In July, APTA and APTA Private Practice secured the introduction of bipartisan legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to allow PTs to privately contract or “opt out” of the Medicare program. H.R. 4204, the Medicare Patient Choice Act, sponsored by Reps. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa., and Don Davis, D-N.C., would add PTs to the list of authorized health care providers who may opt out of Medicare. This change would give patients the flexibility to privately contract with their preferred PT. The APTA-supported legislation is currently being pushed for inclusion in future legislative packages given its potential cost savings.
Visit the APTA Patient Action Center to send a letter of support to your member of Congress.