APTA members helped drive a wave of federal advocacy wins in 2025, including the reversal of years of stagnant Medicare payment. The numbers tell the story: growing bipartisan backing, expanded legislative momentum, and a unified profession pushing payment reform forward.

Focused on advancing fair payment, increasing access to PT services, and reducing administrative burden, APTA's coordinated and strategic efforts demonstrated APTA's ongoing commitment to advancing payment for the profession. 

2025 Congressional Advocacy Impact at a Glance 

In 2025, APTA’s federal advocacy delivered measurable momentum for the profession:

• 7 APTA-priority bills introduced in the 119th Congress to:
  • Improve Medicare payment and practice stability
  • Reduce administrative burden and increase practice flexibility
  • Expand and elevate the role of physical therapists under Medicare and the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Strengthen the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant workforce
• 18 APTA-endorsed bills supporting improved payment, patient access, workforce growth, and coverage improvements
• 345 bipartisan cosponsors backing legislation in support of the advancement of the physical therapy profession
• Over 400 congressional meetings held with APTA members
• Over 81,500 letters sent to Congress by APTA members and supporters advocating key legislative issues
• 1.75% average increase in Medicare reimbursement for physical therapists under the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

Advocacy in Action

Driven by the voices and experiences of its members, APTA turned advocacy into impact in 2025 through advances in Medicare payment, structural reform, and priority federal legislation.

Medicare Payment Increase

For the first time in five years, Medicare payment for physical therapist services is moving in a positive direction. CMS finalized a modest increase for 2026 after years of cuts and flat funding to all providers paid under the fee schedule. While the change won't solve long-standing payment challenges, it marks meaningful progress and reflects the need for sustained advocacy to protect the value of physical therapy.

Driving Long-Term Payment Reforms

APTA's long-term payment reform efforts are focused on securing structural fixes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, strengthening bipartisan engagement in Congress, and expanding opportunities for PTs to participate in alternative and value-based payment models. 

APTA is advocating for Congress to enact meaningful reforms to the physician fee schedule to improve payment and provide stability for practices, including the repeal of the policy known as the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction, or MPPR. Congress must take action to reform this unsustainable system to ensure that Medicare payments to providers accurately reflect the cost of practice and that Medicare beneficiaries have timely access to care.

In January, APTA was invited by the Congressional Doctors Caucus to submit comments outlining the current payment challenges physical therapists face under the physician fee schedule. And in 2026, APTA is pursuing additional legislative efforts, including the introduction of bills to address MPPR, Medicaid, provider credentialing, and more.

Advancing Federal Legislation

Since the start of the 119th Congress in January 2025, APTA has advanced an aggressive legislative agenda and will continue to drive advancements in payment, reduce administrative burden, elevate the role of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, and expand patient access through the following priority legislative issues in 2026:

• Reform Medicare payment and update annual inflation payment (R. 879)
• Expand the ability of PTs to utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare Part B outpatient practices (R. 1517/S. 2225)
• Add PTs to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program and elevate the role of PTs in community health centers (R. 5621)
• Make PTs and PTAs permanent authorized providers of telehealth services under Medicare (R. 1614)
• Raise awareness of the availability and importance of pelvic health physical therapy for postpartum women (R. 4074)
• Reverse cuts to home health care services (R. 5142)
• Reduce administrative burdens for PTs and PTAs, including prior authorization (R. 3514/S. 1816)
• Expand and increase access to falls screening and prevention services from a PT under Medicare (H.R. 1171/S. 2612)
• Obtain full federal funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (R. 2598/S. 1277)
• Enable physical therapists to privately contract with Medicare beneficiaries (R. 4204)

Be an Advocate for the Profession

APTA cannot make these changes without members sharing both wins and challenges with APTA Advocacy staff. Members have inside perspectives on how policies are being enforced in their practices.

In 2026, APTA is committed to empowering members with information and education about all aspects of payment advocacy. Together, we will advance payment for the profession by:

• Holding the first-ever APTA Payment Advocacy Summit, where physical therapy leaders, member advocates, payment experts, and peers from across the country will share strategies and advocacy solutions to advance payment, reduce administrative burden, and move the physical therapy profession forward.
• Hosting APTA Regulatory, Legislative, and Payment Updates webinar series from APTA's Health Policy and Payment team, meant to inform members on the most significant and impactful federal and commercial payer policy updates in 2026.
• Continuing to expand the resources and tools provided via the State Payment Advocacy Resource Consortium, or SPARC, a joint initiative by APTA, APTA Private Practice, and APTA Orthopedics aimed at assisting members with payment and administrative burden challenges.

There are numerous ways members can stay connected and engaged in APTA's advocacy initiatives:

• Join APTA's Advocacy Network for the latest developments in payment advocacy.
• Join the Alternative Payment Models Forum on the APTA Community to connect with peers and share insights, resources, and strategies for physical therapists engaging in new and innovative delivery and payment models.
• Attend APTA's 2026 Capitol Hill Day, happening April 19-21. Members will come together in Washington, D.C., to connect, advocate, and make an impact alongside fellow physical therapy professionals and students on Capitol Hill.

Advancing payment is APTA's top priority. Get the latest updates on the association's work to advance payment by subscribing to APTA's Payment Friday Focus in your email preferences.