Midpoint Reflections: Advocacy in Action

At the halfway point of my internship with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Government Affairs team, one thing is clear: advocacy in healthcare requires persistence and adaptability. The modern U.S. healthcare system faces considerable challenges, compounded by an ever-changing political landscape. The APTA team meets these head-on, adjusting strategies daily to keep physical therapy moving forward. Their work is continuous—building relationships on Capitol Hill, collaborating with other health professions and organizations, and pushing both big and small policy changes that support PTs, student PTs, PTAs and providers across the spectrum.

Since my last blog, I had the opportunity to attend several lobbying events on Capitol Hill, meeting with various members of Congress. These included a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fundraiser and several smaller-scale events. Across the healthcare lobbying community, the most consistent conversation is the need for an inflationary update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and reform of the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR). CMS poses structural challenges for change, but reform carries broad bipartisan support and remains a top priority. 

Other issues discussed include:

• Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act (“locum tenens”) – expanding the ability for PTs in all settings, not just rural and underserved, to ensure continuous care during temporary absences.
• Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act – strengthening Medicaid emphasis on pelvic health and ensuring coverage of postpartum PT services.
• Medicare Patient Choice Act (“opt out”) – allowing PTs to privately contract with Medicare beneficiaries.

In the spotlight this week is a new APTA-led bill, the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025 (H.R. 5621). This legislation would include physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, which awards certain medical providers up to $50,000 in student loan repayment if the provider completes a two-year service commitment practicing in a federally approved medically underserved area in an eligible facility. Additionally, the bill provides increased flexibilities to federal community health centers to offer greater access to physical therapist services. The effort addresses both workforce and financial challenges—directly recognizing the rising burden of DPT student debt while strengthening access to care in rural and medically underserved areas. Preventative PT care saves the system money long-term, making this legislation a win-win for both public health and the profession.

As I write this, the federal government has entered a shutdown. For therapy providers, this means CMS claim review and reimbursement will likely slow, and Medicare telehealth authorization has lapsed until an extension is passed. These disruptions underscore why APTA’s advocacy is so critical: without strong, experienced voices on the ground, our profession risks being sidelined when policy stalls.

I also had the chance to speak with Drew Contreras, PT, DPT—APTA’s Vice President of Strategic Affairs and a former White House PT. He shared insights on the profession’s future, including the likely future shift from fee-for-service to value-based care, where efficiency and outcomes will matter most. He emphasized the need for PTs to recognize the realities of the U.S. healthcare system—using our advanced skill set to optimize clinic revenue models to keep practices viable, while maintaining high-quality patient outcomes and thoughtfully leveraging new technology, such as AI, to support both. He also reminded me—and all students—not to rush past our development years. Seeking mentorship, making mistakes, and refining our skills early on lays the foundation for a sustainable and impactful career.

Thanks for following along—I look forward to sharing more of this journey with you. Feel free to reach out!