What This Bill Does
This bill changes Medicare rules to allow physical therapists to use locum tenens arrangements. A locum tenens arrangement is when a substitute provider temporarily fills in for a regular provider. The bill applies the same locum tenens rules to physical therapists that already apply to physicians.
Who It Affects
Physical therapists who provide outpatient physical therapy services under Medicare. Medicare patients who receive outpatient physical therapy services.
Key Provisions
• Physical therapists can now use locum tenens arrangements under Medicare for outpatient physical therapy services (Sec. 2(a))
• The rules that apply to locum tenens arrangements for physicians' services will apply to physical therapists' services in the same way (Sec. 2(a))
What Changes
Medicare will allow physical therapists to have substitute providers temporarily cover their duties through locum tenens arrangements. This applies the existing physician locum tenens rules to physical therapists.
Important Definitions
Locum tenens: Not explicitly defined in the bill text.
Outpatient physical therapy services: Not explicitly defined in the bill text.
Effective Date
The changes apply to items and services furnished after the date the bill becomes law (Sec. 2(b)).
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1617
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to add physical therapists
to the list of providers allowed to utilize locum tenens arrangements
under Medicare.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 17, 2023
Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself, Mr. TONKO, Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, Ms.
DELBENE, Mr. ARMSTRONG, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. GRIFFITH, Mr. SOTO,
Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. LATURNER, Ms. MATSUI, Mr.
WESTERMAN, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. BOST, Mr. POCAN, Mr. MANN, Mr.
NEGUSE, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr.
FLEISCHMANN, Mr. COHEN, Mr. VAN DREW, and Mr. RUPPERSBERGER)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy 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 jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to add
physical therapists to the list of providers allowed to
utilize locum tenens arrangements under Medicare.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prevent Interruptions
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in Physical Therapy Act of 2023’’.
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•HR 1617 IH
SEC. 2. ALLOWING PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TO UTILIZE
1
LOCUM
TENENS
ARRANGEMENTS
UNDER
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MEDICARE.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—The first sentence of section
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1842(b)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
5
1395u(b)(6)) is amended by striking ‘‘, and (J)’’ and all
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that follows through ‘‘physicians’ services furnished by
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physicians.’’ and inserting ‘‘, and (J) in the case of out-
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patient physical therapy services furnished by physical
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therapists, subparagraph (D) of this sentence shall apply
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to such services and therapists in the same manner as
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such subparagraph applies to physicians’ services fur-
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nished by physicians.’’.
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(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
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subsection (a) shall apply to items and services furnished
15
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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Æ
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