H.R. 5621

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · September 30, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. DeGette

H.R. 5621

SEC. 1. Short title; findings

(a) Short title
- This Act may be cited as the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025.
(b) Findings
- Congress finds as follows:
  - Physical therapists play an important role in the prevention, treatment, or management of pain for individuals, including those with substance use disorders, or at risk of developing a substance use disorder.
  - Physical therapists are also playing an important role in the physical rehabilitation needs of individuals who have developed chronic health conditions as a result of COVID–19.
  - Physical therapist services are an essential component of the multidisciplinary undertaking that will be required to improve patient access and outcomes in medically underserved areas.

SEC. 2. National Health Service Corps; participation of physical therapists in loan repayment program

(a) Mission of corps; definition of primary health services
- Section 331(a)(3)(D) of the Public Health Service Act () is amended by striking or mental health,and inserting mental health, or physical therapy,. 42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3)(D)
(b) Physical therapy health professional target areas
- Section 332 of the Public Health Service Act () is amended by adding at the end the following: 42 U.S.C. 254e
  - (l) Physical therapy health professional target areas
    - (1) In general
      - The Secretary shall carry out a program of—
        
        identifying physical therapy health professional target areas; and
        
        assigning members of the Corps who are physical therapists to such areas.
    - (2) Applicable provisions
      - The provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (6) of subsection (k) shall apply to the identification of physical therapy health professional target areas and the assignment of physical therapists under this subsection except that—
        
        references to maternity care health professional target areas shall be treated as references to physical therapy health professional target areas; and
        
        references to maternity care health professionals and maternity care shall be treated as references to physical therapists and physical therapy, respectively.
(c) Loan repayment program
- Section 338B of the Public Health Service Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 254l–1
  - in subsection (a)(1), by inserting after ;
  - in subsection (b)—
    - by striking and all that follows through the end of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
      - (1)
        
        (A)
        
        (i) have a degree in medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or another health profession, or an appropriate degree from a graduate program of behavioral and mental health;
        
        (ii) be certified as a nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant; or
        
        (iii) have a doctoral or master’s degree in physical therapy;
    - in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting after ; and
    - in paragraph (1)(C)(ii), by inserting after ; and
    - (i) Eligibility to participate in other programs
      - Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any health care professional who is eligible to participate in the program under this section from participating in any other loan repayment program established by the Secretary for which such professional is eligible.
  - by adding at the end the following:

SEC. 3. Additional funding for participation of physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

Section 10503(b)(2)(K) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 254b–2(b)(2)(K)
- by striking striking72,972,603and inserting inserting87,972,603; and
- by inserting before the period at the end the following: .

SEC. 4. Expanding Medicare Rural Health Clinic Services and Federally Qualified Health Center Services to include physical therapy services

(a) In general
- Section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)
  - in paragraph (1)—
    - in subparagraph (C), by striking and at the end ;
    - in subparagraph (D), by adding at the end; and
      - such physical therapy services (as defined in subsection (p)) furnished by a physical therapist,
    - by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph:
  - in paragraph (3)(A), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (D)and inserting subparagraphs (A) through (E).
(b) Effective date
- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.