U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) this week introduced bipartisan legislation to increase access to physical therapy services at Community Health Centers (CHCs), which provide primary health services to more than 28 million people in more than 11,000 rural and urban communities nationwide.
The Primary Health Services Enhancement Act would eliminate restrictive and burdensome requirements that currently make it difficult for CHCs to provide physical therapy services. This legislation would improve access to alternative pain management treatments for patients in medically underserved areas.
“Physical therapy has proven to be a critical tool for patients to manage chronic pain and recover from injury, and it plays a major role in non-opioid alternative treatment plans,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “But far too often patients in rural and underserved communities face unnecessary barriers that prevent them from getting the treatment they need from community health centers. The bipartisan Primary Health Services Enhancement Act will give Hoosiers an affordable and convenient option to improve their quality of life and find innovative ways to treat pain.”
This legislation is supported by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
