HR 1617 United States House · 118th Congress

Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2023

The Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2023 amends Medicare rules to allow physical therapists to use temporary replacement providers (locum tenens) for outpatient physical therapy services, aligning with existing provisions for physicians. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries receiving physical therapy and physical therapy practices needing temporary staffing solutions during provider shortages. The bill updates the Social Security Act to extend the current physician locum tenens rule to physical therapists, ensuring continuity of care without requiring separate approval for temporary coverage. It applies to services furnished after the bill's enactment date.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 17, 2023 Last action Dec 17, 2024
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
3
Dec 17, 2024
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
lower
Mar 24, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
lower
Mar 17, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
Mar 17, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 82 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Gus M. Bilirakis
Gus M. Bilirakis
RRepublican
FL
12
Co
Photo of A. Drew Ferguson IV
A. Drew Ferguson IV
RRepublican
GA
3
Co
Photo of Aaron Bean
Aaron Bean
RRepublican
FL
4
Co
Photo of Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith
RRepublican
NE
3
Co
Photo of Brendan F. Boyle
Brendan F. Boyle
DDemocratic
PA
2
Co
Photo of Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins
DDemocratic
NY
26
Co
Photo of Brian K. Fitzpatrick
Brian K. Fitzpatrick
RRepublican
PA
1
Co
Photo of Brittany Pettersen
Brittany Pettersen
DDemocratic
CO
7
Co
Photo of Bruce Westerman
Bruce Westerman
RRepublican
AR
4
Co
Photo of C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger
C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger
DDemocratic
MD
2
Co
Photo of Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann
Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann
RRepublican
TN
3