Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025
Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary: Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025 **What the bill would do:** This bill would change Medicare payment rules to allow physical therapists to be paid for services that another physical therapist provides to their patients, even when that substitute therapist works outside traditionally underserved areas. Currently, Medicare only allows this arrangement in specific geographic areas that are rural, medically underserved, or have a shortage of health professionals.
The bill would remove those geographic restrictions. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily affects physical therapists and their patients who rely on Medicare for coverage. It could help patients in urban and well-served areas maintain continuity of care when their regular therapist is temporarily unavailable, while also allowing therapists to receive payment for patient coverage arrangements they currently cannot bill for in many locations. **Current status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025This bill allows a physical therapist to receive payment under Medicare for services provided to the physical therapist's patients by another physical therapist through a qualifying temporary arrangement, regardless of the geographic area or population served. Currently, physical therapists may only receive payment with respect to such arrangements for services provided in medically underserved, rural, or health professional shortage areas.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.