Congress·In Committee·S. 2225

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

Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025

9 months ago·View on Congress.gov

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

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

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Positive Impacts(2)

Medicare

Helps

Disability Benefits

Helps

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