Medicare expands temporary staffing flexibility for physical therapists
H.R. 1517 — Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025 · Filed by Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) · 63 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 24, 2025 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill allows physical therapists to use locum tenens (temporary substitute) arrangements under Medicare, the same way physicians already can. Currently, Medicare rules permit physicians to use temporary stand-in providers, but physical therapists are excluded. The bill extends that same flexibility to physical therapists, enabling continuity of care when a therapist is unavailable.
Why we flagged it
The bill removes a categorical exclusion from an existing Medicare arrangement rule, bringing physical therapists into parity with physicians. It is a narrow technical amendment that equalizes treatment across provider types.
What the text implies
- Locum tenens arrangements may increase Medicare billing volume if physical therapists use temporary providers more frequently than they currently substitute informally; cost impact depends on utilization patterns not specified in the bill.
- The amendment applies subparagraph (D) of § 1842(b)(6) to physical therapists without restating that subparagraph's content; the actual scope of permissible locum tenens arrangements is defined in the cited statute, not this bill.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
physical therapy practices and clinics; temporary staffing agencies serving healthcare