S. 4420 — Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026

This section expands the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to include physical therapists. It revises the definition of primary health services to encompass physical therapy; directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to identify physical therapy health professional target areas within health professional shortage areas based on data comparing the availability and need for such services and after seeking input from relevant provider organizations; and amends the NHSC loan repayment program to add physical therapists as eligible participants, requiring a doctoral or master's degree in physical therapy for program eligibility while preserving existing eligibility rules for other health professionals.

This section provides an additional $15,000,000 for loan repayments for physical therapists participating in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program under section 338B of the Public Health Service Act.

This section expands the definition of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) services under Medicare to include physical therapy services furnished by a physical therapist. The amendments apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.