How to Get Involved!
One way that you can easily advocate and take an active role in the PT profession at the federal and state level is to download the APTA Action app.
While we encourage everyone to support the PT profession through their membership with APTA, you do not need to be an APTA member to use the app and have a voice. Taking action via the app typically takes 1-2 minutes and has the latest information on legislation that affects you.
May 2026
U.S. Department of Education issues final rule
On Thursday, April 30, the U.S. Department of Education issued a final rule that will significantly restrict federal student loan access for students pursuing Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degrees. Under the finalized rule, DPT programs are excluded from the Department’s definition of “professional degrees” for loan purposes, resulting in substantially lower federal loan limits for PT students.
Congress can mitigate these consequences. Several bipartisan, APTA‑supported bills have been introduced, H.R. 6574, H.R. 6677 / S. 4039, and H.R. 6718, that would ensure professional health care degrees such as the DPT have appropriate access to federal student loan limits.
MPPR Legislation Introduced: On April 20, 2026, Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C., introduced the RECOVER Act (H.R. 8386), APTA legislation to repeal MPPR, which is the Medicare Part B payment policy that imposes excessive and unnecessary payment reductions on specific “always therapy” codes, significantly impacting the financial viability of therapy practices and limiting access to care.
Critical Element of Medicare Payment Reform is Introduced in the U.S. House
Fiscal Year 2027 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Proposed Rule:
On April 2, 2026, CMS issued its calendar year 2027 proposed rule for the inpatient rehabilitation facility prospective payment system. This rule would increase inpatient rehabilitation facility payments by an estimated 2.8% or $355 million in CY 2027 relative to 2026.
Fiscal Year 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed Rule:
On April 2, 2026, the CMS issued a proposed rule for updates to Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities for fiscal year 2027. CMS is proposing a 2.4% increase in SNF per diem perspective payment, or PPS, rates, or $888 million in aggregate payments to SNFs during FY 2027. Legislative Bill Tracker: Be sure to check out the APTA Legislative Bill Tracker that outlines some of the bills that APTA is currently working on in the 119th Congress. Click
Legislative Bill Tracker: Be sure to check out the APTA Legislative Bill Tracker that outlines some of the bills that APTA is currently working on in the 119th Congress. Click here: APTA Legislative Update Bill Status | APTA
September 2025
2026 Skilled Nursing Facility Final Rule:
On July 31, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the 2026 skilled nursing facility final rule. Effective October 1, 2025, skilled nursing facilities (SNF) will have an overall aggregate payment increase of 3.3% totaling approximately $1.16 billion in increased payments compared to FY 2025. This is an increase from 2.8% in the proposed rule. This proposed increase is based on a 3.0% market basket update, a 0.6% adjustment for market basket forecast error, and a negative 0.7% productivity adjustment.
2025 Inpatient Rehabilitation Final Rule:
On Aug. 1, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the 2026 inpatient rehabilitation facility final rule. The agency is finalized a 2.6% increase which will result in an overall increase of $340 million in aggregate IRF payments for FY 2026.
Commercial Payers
Out-of-Network Repricing Practice Advisory: On August 1, 2025, in response to the issue of commercial insurers repricing out-of-network claims resurfacing and encompassing several large national insurers. Practice Advisory: Commercial Insurance Out-of-Network Repricing | APTA
Aetna: This APTA podcast features discussions about how APTA advocacy led to Aetna’s decision to provide unrestricted direct access to physical therapist services. A recap of the decade effort by APTA staff to move the needle and ultimately deliver this significant win for the profession. Listen here: July Advocacy Roundup: APTA Leads the Way on Aetna Direct Access Policy Win | APTA
Articles of Interest
Article | 500 Member Advocates Push for Change During APTA Capitol Hill Day | APTA
Senate Introduces Companion Legislation To Help Patients Avoid Interruptions | APTA
News | Takeaways From the Proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, Part 1 | APTA
April 2025
MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE
On Friday, March 14, 2025, President Trump signed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the federal government through Sept. 30 but fails to address dozens of critical policies, including funding for a needed payment boost under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The CR did extend current telehealth flexibilities through September 30, 2025.
While Congress failed to address the fee schedule, lawmakers are seeking other options to address Medicare payment, including a potential stand-alone bill to address all of the health care policies that were left out of the CR package. In addition, House leaders have stated that they could address the fee schedule in the upcoming budget reconciliation package; however, the timing of when Congress will take up that legislation is unclear.
Read the following statement from APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT:
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Cuts | APTA
MEDICAID
On February 17, 2025, APTA joined sixty-five national organizations of the Medicaid in Schools Coalition in a letter to the U.S. Congress to express deep opposition to any major restructuring or cuts to the Medicaid program in the upcoming budget reconciliation package. Specifically, the letter outlined opposition to the proposals to cap Medicaid spending or lower the federal Medicaid match rates would jeopardize $7.5 billion in funding for school-based Medicaid services.
LOCUM TENENS
On February 24, 2025, the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act (H.R. 1517) was introduced in the U.S. House. In 2016 APTA successfully advocated for enactment of legislation that allows the current use of locum tenens by PTs in rural and underserved areas; APTA has been a leading advocate for an expansion of that ability nationwide to all PTs to better support patient access to care and reduce administrative burden. HR1517 would allow PTs to utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare in all geographic areas. The APTA-supported legislation was introduced by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Paul Tonko (D-NY).
February 2025
