Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4420 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4420 To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the participation of physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment program, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare Rural Health Clinic Services and Federally Qualified Health Center Services to include physical therapy services, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2026 Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Rounds) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the participation of physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment program, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare Rural Health Clinic Services and Federally Qualified Health Center Services to include physical therapy services, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS; PARTICIPATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPISTS IN LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM. (a) Mission of Corps; Definition of Primary Health Services.-- Section 331(a)(3)(D) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3)(D)) is amended by striking ``or mental health,'' and inserting ``mental health, or physical therapy,''. (b) Physical Therapy Health Professional Target Areas.--Section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(l)(1) The