Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025
Summary
The "Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025" aims to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, allowing physical therapists to utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare. This would permit temporary physical therapists to fill in for regular therapists who are temporarily absent, ensuring continuity of care for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to expand the availability of physical therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries. It allows physical therapists to maintain their practices while accommodating temporary absences. This change could lead to more consistent care and potentially better patient outcomes.
Potential Benefits
- Ensures continuity of care for Medicare patients when their regular physical therapist is temporarily unavailable.
- Provides flexibility for physical therapists, allowing them to take leave without disrupting patient care.
- Potentially reduces delays in accessing physical therapy services.
- May improve the financial stability of physical therapy practices by allowing them to continue billing during therapist absences.
- Could lead to better patient outcomes due to consistent and timely access to therapy.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased costs to the Medicare system due to increased utilization of services.
- Possible administrative burden for physical therapy practices to manage locum tenens arrangements.
- Risk of inconsistent quality of care if locum tenens therapists are not properly vetted.
- May not address the underlying issues causing therapist absences, such as burnout or lack of work-life balance.
- Potential for fraud or abuse if locum tenens arrangements are not properly monitored.
Constitutional Alignment
This bill appears to align with the general welfare clause of the US Constitution, as it aims to improve healthcare access for Medicare beneficiaries. Specifically, the preamble states the Constitution is intended to "promote the general Welfare".
Congress has the power to legislate on matters related to Medicare under its constitutional authority to provide for the general welfare. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).