Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-619
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-03-14
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding

Health personnel

Health programs administration and funding

Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care

Medical education

Student aid and college costs
Latest action: action_date: 2017-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-03-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include physical therapy within the definition of &quot;primary health services&quot; for purposes of the National Health Service Corps. The bill makes physical therapists eligible for repayment of their educational loans in order to ensure an adequate supply of physical therapists.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 619 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 14, 2017 Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. Wicker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the participation of physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2017 . 2. National Health Service Corps; participation of physical therapists in loan repayment program (a) Mission of corps; definition of primary health services Section 331(a)(3)(D) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3)(D) ) is amended by striking or mental health, and inserting mental health, or physical therapy, . (b) Loan repayment program Section 338B of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254l–1 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking and physician assistants; and inserting physician assistants, and physical therapists; ; and (2) in subsection (b)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting before the semicolon the following: , or have a doctoral or master's degree in physical therapy ; (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting physical therapy, after mental health, ; and (C) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by inserting physical therapy, after dentistry, .