U.S. Senators John Boozman and Ben Ray Luján have introduced the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act, a bipartisan effort aimed at maintaining access to physical therapy services for Medicare patients. The legislation seeks to address current restrictions that can disrupt consistent care when a patient’s regular physical therapist is temporarily unavailable.
The proposed act builds on the 21st Century Cures Act, which was supported by Boozman and became law in 2016. This previous legislation improved access to physical therapy services in rural and underserved areas during temporary provider absences. The new bill would allow for temporary substitution of physical therapists, similar to provisions available for other physicians during leaves of absence.
Boozman emphasized the importance of uninterrupted physical therapy for seniors, stating, “Physical therapy is an important part of the care seniors in Arkansas and around our country rely on, but disruptions in treatment can hinder recovery as well as compound burdens and costs.” He expressed satisfaction with working towards a bipartisan solution that ensures continuous care from qualified providers.
Luján highlighted the benefits of physical therapy nationwide, including his personal experience. He noted that interruptions could negatively impact long-term recovery and health, saying, “As patients embark on their journey to recovery, any interruption in physical therapy can be damaging to a patient’s long-term recovery and health.”
The American Physical Therapy Association has endorsed this legislation.
For further details, the bill text is available online.
