Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-313
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2015-01-29
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Allied health services

Contracts and agency

Health personnel

Medicare
Latest action: action_date: 2015-07-30
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 177.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-01-29
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2015</b></p> <p>Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require physical therapists furnishing outpatient physical therapy services to use specified locum tenens arrangements for payment purposes in the same manner as such arrangements are used to apply to physicians furnishing substitute physicians services for other physicians.</p> <p>(Locum tenens [place holder], or substitute, physicians usually assume professional practices in the absence of a regular physician for reasons such as illness, pregnancy, vacation, or continuing medical education.)</p>

action_date: 2015-07-30
action_desc: Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
text: <p><b>Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2015</b></p> <p> (Sec. 2) This bill amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require physical therapists furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area to use specified locum tenens arrangements for payment purposes in the same manner as such arrangements are used to apply to physicians furnishing substitute physicians services for other physicians.</p> <p>(Locum tenens [place holder], or substitute, physicians usually assume professional practices in the absence of a regular physician for reasons such as illness, pregnancy, vacation, or continuing medical education.)</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 313 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 29, 2015 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Casey , Mr. Moran , and Mr. Blunt ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to add physical therapists to the list of providers allowed to utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2015 . 2. Allowing physical therapists to utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare (a) In general The first sentence of section 1842(b)(6) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6) ) is amended— (1) by striking and before (H) ; and (2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: , and (I) in the case of outpatient physical therapy services furnished by physical therapists, subparagraph (D) of this sentence shall apply to such services and therapists in the same manner as such subparagraph applies to physicians’ services furnished by physicians . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to services furnished after the date of the enactment of this Act.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 177 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 313 [Report No. 114–98] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 29, 2015 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Casey , Mr. Moran , Mr. Blunt , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Heitkamp , Mr. Coons , Mr. Thune , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Brown , Mr. King , Mr. Portman , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Bennet , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Burr , Mr. Merkley , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Gardner , Ms. Ayotte , Mr. Heller , Mr. Schumer , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Peters , Ms. Hirono , and Mr. Wicker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance July 30, 2015 Reported by Mr. Hatch , with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to add physical therapists to the list of providers allowed to utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2015 . 2. Allowing physical therapists to utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare (a) In general The first sentence of section 1842(b)(6) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6) ) is amended— (1) by striking and before (H) ; and (2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: , and (I) in the case of outpatient physical therapy services furnished by physical therapists, subparagraph (D) of this sentence shall apply to such services and therapists in the same manner as such subparagraph applies to physicians’ services furnished by physicians . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to services furnished after the date of the enactment of this Act.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2015 . 2. Allowing physical therapists to utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare (a) In general The first sentence of section 1842(b)(6) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6) ) is amended— (1) by striking and before (H) ; and (2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: , and (I) in the case of outpatient physical therapy services furnished by physical therapists in a health professional shortage area (as defined in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act), a medically underserved area (as designated pursuant to section 330(b)(3)(A) of such Act), or a rural area (as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D)), subparagraph (D) of this sentence shall apply to such services and therapists in the same manner as such subparagraph applies to physicians’ services furnished by physicians . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to services furnished after the date of the enactment of this Act.

July 30, 2015 Reported with an amendment