$290 million for National Health Services Corp

[PT Dad]

It was announced today that $290 million from the Affordable Health Care Act will be used to expand funding for the National Health Services Corp that provides funds to health professionals to repay student loans. Physical therapists were not included in the list of professions that can use these funds. Where is the APTA on this? My understanding was that a bill was introduced in Congress last year to make PTs eligible for these funds.


http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/index.htm

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[henohenoman]

Wow I feel really left out. Marriage/family therapists & counselors are part of this & PTs are not, something's not right w/ this pic.

As for the status of the bill --> http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-1057

 

[markelmarcel]

That just isn't fair... PTs work just as hard as others in the health profession.
It sure would be nice to have that as an option after graduation.

It'd be nice if we could push it through the ranks a little quicker and get it approved!

 

[TheOx777]

This kind of news is extremely disconcerting. It lends credence to the fact that PTs, PT students, and future physical therapist still have headway to make as it relates to our stake in the health care arena. I know the APTA has and will continue to sit at the "table" on issues like this, but it is frustrating that more progress has not been made.

It's incumbent on every PT that you do the very best job you can as a clinician, so that we can begin to mitigate this type of behavior/treatment from the government and the general public. So as the future of the field it is critical that we continue to present strong research and let people know that Evidence Based Practice is here to stay in the field of physical therapy.

 

[lee9786]

This kind of news is extremely disconcerting. It lends credence to the fact that PTs, PT students, and future physical therapist still have headway to make as it relates to our stake in the health care arena. I know the APTA has and will continue to sit at the "table" on issues like this, but it is frustrating that more progress has not been made.

It's incumbent on every PT that you do the very best job you can as a clinician, so that we can begin to mitigate this type of behavior/treatment from the government and the general public. So as the future of the field it is critical that we continue to present strong research and let people know that Evidence Based Practice is here to stay in the field of physical therapy.

Sadly in the game of politics evidence has little to do with it. If it did, Chiros wouldn't be sitting at the table. Public perception plays a part though.

Here's a link to the last attempt to get PTs on board.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1134

Unfortunately the bill didn't pass.