S 619 — Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2017

Summary

Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2017 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include physical therapy within the definition of "primary health services" 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.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html March 14, 2017

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the definition of primary health services in the National Health Service Corps to include physical therapists and allows their participation in the Loan Repayment Program.

• 42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3)(D)

  or mental health, → mental health, or physical therapy,

  This change allows physical therapy to be recognized as part of primary health services.

• 42 U.S.C. 254l-1(a)(1)

  and physician assistants; → physician assistants, and physical therapists;

  This addition includes physical therapists in the Loan Repayment Program eligibility.

• 42 U.S.C. 254l-1(b)(1)(A)

  , or have a doctoral or master's degree in physical therapy

  This modification expands the eligibility criteria for the Loan Repayment Program to include holders of doctoral or master's degrees in physical therapy.

• 42 U.S.C. 254l-1(b)(1)(B)

  physical therapy,

  This change adds physical therapy to the list of fields eligible for the Loan Repayment Program.

• 42 U.S.C. 254l-1(b)(1)(C)(ii)

  physical therapy,

  This addition includes physical therapy in the contexts specified for the Loan Repayment Program.

Action History

1. March 14, 2017

   Introduced in Senate

2. March 14, 2017

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sponsors

• Jon Tester · Primary
• Roger F. Wicker · Cosponsor
• King, Angus S., Jr. · Cosponsor

Subjects