In the flurry of activity as the 110th Congress prepares to adjourn and focus on the November congressional election, legislators have passed the Health Care Safety Net Act (HR 1343), reauthorizing programs under the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).

However, Congress did not include provisions to make PTs eligible for the NHSC student loan repayment program despite strong support for the Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act (HR 1134/S 2485), which has 145 cosponsors in the House and 12 in the Senate.

The American Physical Therapy Association will reassess legislative options for including PTs in the loan repayment program during the 111th Congress.

Members of Congress will be returning to the campaign trail, seeking last-minute support in their election bids.

The APTA says PTs can help ensure candidates are aware of critical issues by taking part in the PT-PAC Workday Challenge on October 5 to 11. Members can use pledge forms or a link for online contributions to help meet the goal of raising $100,000 from 5,000 APTA members to support candidates for Congress who support important issues. Contributions to PT-PAC are voluntary and not tax deductible.

[Source: American Physical Therapy Association]