Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2023

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1617 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.


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                    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 Energy 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned

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                                 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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prevent Interruptions in Physical 
Therapy Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. ALLOWING PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TO UTILIZE LOCUM TENENS 
              ARRANGEMENTS UNDER MEDICARE.

    (a) In General.--The first sentence of section 1842(b)(6) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6)) is amended by striking ``, 
and (J)'' and all that follows through ``physicians' services furnished 
by physicians.'' and inserting ``, and (J) in the case of outpatient 
physical therapy services furnished by physical therapists, 
subparagraph (D) of this sentence shall apply to such services and 
therapists in the same manner as such subparagraph applies to 
physicians' services furnished by physicians.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to items and services furnished after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
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