For three years, APTQI has supported a clinic tour program, creating opportunities for APTQI members to educate lawmaker offices on the importance of community-based physical and occupational therapy.
Through this program, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, as well as their policy and district staff, meet with APTQI members, physical therapists, and even patients to see firsthand how physical therapy benefits communities across the country. APTQI members discuss key policy issues with legislators and staff, including payment reform, quality initiatives, and improving patient access to physical therapy.
This year, APTQI members and therapy advocates participating in tours focused on the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act (S. 2612/H.R. 1171), a bipartisan bill to increase beneficiary access to falls prevention. We are pleased to share that these visits directly resulted in several new bill cosponsors!
In 2025, tours were held in 26 APTQI member clinics across 21 states. The clinic tours also received significant media attention, including 11 letters to the editor published in local outlets following staff and member visits, as well as op-eds published in the Idaho Statesman and the New Jersey Hills Media.
“APTQI’s tour program provides a unique opportunity for our members to showcase the importance of physical therapy in improving the lives of patients in communities in every state and congressional district,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI. “Thank you to everyone who helped organize these visits and to the legislators and staff who traveled to our clinics and personally met with therapists and patients. We look forward to building on these relationships and hosting more lawmakers in our clinic locations next year.”
Thank you to all APTQI members, clinic staff, and legislative offices for participating in this year’s clinic tour program!
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN) — U.S. Physical Therapy, Nashville, TN
- Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA) — Upstream Rehabilitation, New Orleans, LA
- Sen. John Cornyn (TX) — Confluent Health, Austin, TX
- Sen. John Cornyn (TX) — U.S. Physical Therapy, Houston, TX
- Sen. Steve Daines (MT) — Mountain Land Physical Therapy, Billings, MT
- Sen. Steve Daines (MT) — Health & Rehab Solutions, Helena, MT
- Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL) — ATI Physical Therapy, Chicago, IL
- Sen. Maggie Hassan (NH) — Cypress Health Partners, Salem, NH
- Sen. Ron Johnson (WI) — Doctors of Physical Therapy, Stoughton, WI
- Sen. James Lankford (OK) — Confluent Health, Oklahoma City, OK
- Sen. James Risch (ID) — Mountain Land Physical Therapy, Boise, ID
- Sen. Thom Tillis (NC) — Upstream Rehabilitation, Charlotte, NC
- Sen. Mark Warner (VA) — U.S. Physical Therapy, Arlington, VA
- Sen. Raphael Warnock (GA) — Team Rehabilitation Physical Therapy, Decatur, GA (2 visits)
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA) — Cypress Health Partners, Boston, MA (2 visits)
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) — Highbar Health, Cranston, RI
- Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08) — Health & Rehab Solutions, Westminster, CO
- Rep. Kevin Hern (OK-01)* — Upstream Rehabilitation, Broken Arrow, OK
- Rep. Erin Houchin (IN-09) — ATI Physical Therapy, Bloomington, IN
- Rep. John James (MI-10) — Team Rehabilitation Physical Therapy, Warren, MI
- Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (NJ-07)* — JAG Physical Therapy, Warren, NJ
- Rep. John Larson (CT-01) — U.S. Physical Therapy, Manchester, CT
- Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15) — CORA Physical Therapy, Wesley Chapel, FL
- Rep. Michael Rulli (OH-06) — First Settlement Physical Therapy, Marietta, OH
*Lawmaker visit
