American Physical Therapy Association Sets New Public Policy Agenda for 119th Congress

Reforming Medicare Payment and Improving Patient Access and Care Remains of the Highest Priority to APTA and Its Members

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Physical Therapy Association has delivered a new set of public policy priorities to the 119th Congress and federal agencies, reinforcing physical therapy's essential role in the U.S. health care system. As detailed in "APTA Public Policy Priorities 2025-26," APTA advocacy work is focused squarely on issues relevant to federal legislators — including an emphasis on Medicare payment reform.

"Fighting for increased Medicare payment and advocating for long-term reforms to the Medicare fee schedule remain top legislative priorities for APTA in the 119th U.S. Congress," said APTA Vice President Skye Donovan, PT, PhD, who also chairs the APTA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. "Updating our policy priorities is key to establishing a framework for where we should spend our human and financial resources. In addition to serving as a starting place for deeper conversations on needed reforms with lawmakers, insurers, and federal agencies, our public policy priorities enable us to leverage the power of the physical therapy profession to provide solutions to health care issues that impact all Americans."

Published in odd-numbered years to coincide with the start of a new session of Congress, APTA's public policy priorities focus on key policy areas that impact the physical therapy profession. For 2025-26, the four areas are:

• Patient access and care.
• Population health and social determinants of health.
• Value-based care and practice.
• Research and clinical innovation.

The 2025-26 priorities reflect progress made so far and feature strategies that address shifts in the environment, including specific directives of reforming the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, reducing administrative burden, expanding investment in prevention and wellness, developing models that support PTs as an entry point to care, and increasing funding for research that includes physical therapist services, with PTs more involved in the development of outcome, process, and quality measures. 

"As we embark on a new journey with the 119th Congress and federal agencies together, I encourage all of our members to join us in taking an active role in shaping the policy initiatives our profession faces today," said APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD. "Advocacy wins rarely happen overnight; work on an initiative often takes months or even years. This is why developing resources such as our public policy priorities is vital to the American Physical Therapy Association's mission."

The American Physical Therapy Association represents more than 100,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapy students nationwide. Visit apta.org to learn more.

SOURCE American Physical Therapy Association