Advocacy Resources
The APTA Private Practice Board of Directors and Government Affairs Committee (GAC) through the support of the section's lobbyist firm, Hooper, Lundy, and Bookman, are actively engaged in monitoring, commenting, and meeting with key congressional members. Additionally, our Key Contacts network actively works to build relationships with Members of Congress to educate and advocate congress on issues impacting physical therapists and the communities they serve.
Use these resources to enhance your understanding of federal issues related to the practice of physical therapy, find congressional contacts, and learn how to be an effective advocate. Subscribe to our advocacy blog to have updates sent to you.
How Can You Help?
- Educate yourself on the issues using the resources below.
- Become a Key Contact and join our network of those working to create change.
- Respond to Action Alerts from APTA and APTA Private Practice and make your voice heard.
Legislative One-pagers
Legislative one-pagers are drafted by our lobbying team on key issues. They are designed so that you can leave a copy if you have a meeting with a congressional office, or use them to get a quick understanding of this issue for yourself.
- EMPOWER Act (H.R.4878/S.2459) which seeks to require Medicare to accept a state's supervision standard for PTAs in all settings instead of Medicare requiring direct supervision in outpatient therapy settings.
- Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act (S.793/H.R.1617) which would enable all physical therapists to utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare.
- Expanded Telehealth Access Act (H.R.3875) which seeks to make permanent Medicare's temporary coverage for physical therapists using telehealth to provide physical therapy services.
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The REDUCE Act (H.R. 7279) This legislation will streamline the plan of care by eliminating the need for additional paperwork for those outpatient therapy services provided under a physician’s order if the therapist simply submits the plan of care to the patient’s referring physician within 30 days of the initial evaluation.
Find Your Members of Congress
Key Jurisdictional Committees
The House and Senate depend on committees to effectively consider the thousands of bills that are proposed each session. Find out if your Senator or Congressional Representative serves on a key committee of jurisdiction.
2023-2024 Legislative & Advocacy Priorities
Congressional Communications
- APTA Private Practice and other rehabilitation therapy providers endorse the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act which seeks to add physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors to the existing Medicare policy that allows Medicare providers to privately contract with beneficiaries after they formally "opt out" of the Medicare program. (November 2023)
- 46 organizations, including APTA Private Practice, urge House Leaders as well as the Chair and Ranking Members of the Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Committees to protect the conversion factor by rejecting the implementation of the new G2211 add-on code. (October 2023)
- APTA Private Practice and 45 other organizations call on Senate leadership and the Senate Finance Committee to halt the implementation of the new G2211 add-on code. (October 2023)
- APTA Private Practice and other rehabilitation therapy stakeholders provide the House Energy & Commerce Oversight Subcommittee recommendations on Medicare reform policies which would benefit both therapists and patients (July 2023)
- Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: A Joint Statement From AOTA, APTA, ASHA, and APTA Private Practice on Outpatient Therapy Reform (June 2023)
- APTA Private Practice is one of 106 non-physician and physician stakeholder organizations who wrote to Congress in support of the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R.2474) which seeks to create an annual inflationary update to Medicare's reimbursement rate. (May 2023)
- APTA Private Practice and 103 other physician and non-physician providers point out the need for substantive Medicare payment reform and call on Congress to hold hearings and begin long-term payment reform efforts. (January 2023)
Regulatory Communications
- Comments on CMS' 2024 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies proposed rule (September 2023)
- Comments in response to the new Medicare benefit of lymphedema compression garments, as proposed in CMS' Calendar Year 2024 Home Health proposed rule (August 2023)
- Combined Medicaid Access Comment Letter (July 3, 2023)
- "MIPS Value Pathway" Comment
- "Medicare Advantage Prior Authorizations" Comment
- "Interoperability and Prior Authorizations" Comment
- Electronic Communications between Providers and Payers
- APTA Private Practice and 8 other rehabilitation therapy stakeholders urge CMS to promptly align the expiration date of the use of telehealth codes with existing law--December 31, 2024 (February 2023)