New Legislature

There are a few new bills before Congress. PLEASE, read through this and get in touch with your congressmen. I know it is long, but it is important. AND, if you don't think these are, please comment. I would love for anyone who disagrees to state why so I am not just preaching to the choir. (That does not mean that I will preach at you instead. I would like to know what people are thinking.)

The following is the result of discussion between myself and another PT student Eugene Babenko.

HR1134 - The Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act.
Enabling physical therapists to participate in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program by adding PT to the definition of primary health care services.

HR 748/S. 450 - The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act
Repeal the cap on therapy services for Medicare beneficiaries once and for all. If Congress does not take action by January 1, 2008, the therapy cap will again be imposed on Medicare-covered physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language pathology services.

HR 1552/S. 93 - The Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapist Act
Recognizing the ability of licensed physical therapists to evaluate and treat beneficiaries requiring outpatient physical therapy services under Part B of the Medicare program and eliminates burdensome requirements, such as a physician's referral or certification of the plan of care, as permitted by state law.

If you would like to take action, please head to the Legislative Action Center.
Or click:
www.apta.org/advocacy

If you're not totally convinced I urge you to keep reading.

With regard to HR1134, I think any legislation being passed that acknowledges the PT profession as a primary health care service is a vital step towards VISION 2020. This specific bill is a great continuation of the multiple efforts of our profession to reach out to the under served. In addition, student debt is an overwhelming aspect to becoming a PT and has been cited as a barrier of many potential candidates entering the profession. Short of academic institutions lowering their tuitions this bill is a vital component in helping to relieve this problem.

Unfortunately, often times students are so focused on their studies that they are unaware of important opportunities to realize how governmental affairs can affect them. The Legislative Action Center that the APTA provides for its members has been a key to getting students involved in the legislative process.

With the introduction of HR 748/S. 450 and HR 1552/S. 93 students really do need to take a more active role in advocating for their profession, and in turn, for their future patients. Having all three bills currently in congress would be a great accomplishment for the advancement of Physical Therapy. If we as future clinicians can assume ownership of professional responsibility and realize the magnitude of this, the progression of physical therapy will be in very capable hands for decades to come.