Congress·In Committee·8 months ago

Congress Moves to Let Physical Therapists Use Temporary Fill-In Coverage Under Medicare

Also known as: Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed

Review

Senate

House

President

Impacts

Positive Impacts(2)

Medicare

Helps

Disability Benefits

Helps

Key Points

Congress would let physical therapists use temporary substitute providers under Medicare when the regular therapist is away.
Goal: prevent gaps in outpatient physical therapy for Medicare patients if a therapist is sick, on leave, or otherwise unavailable.
This change would put physical therapists on a similar footing to doctors who can already use this kind of fill-in coverage under Medicare rules.
If enacted, it would apply to physical therapy services provided after the bill becomes law.

HealthcareMedicare MedicaidLabor Employment

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jul 9, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Jul 9, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the date the bill becomes law, for services furnished after that date

Medicare begins allowing locum tenens (“temporary substitute”) billing for outpatient physical therapy

If your regular physical therapist is out, another physical therapist can step in so your Medicare-covered therapy can continue with fewer canceled appointments

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 2225

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(9)

D: 2R: 7

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.