APTA Submits Statement on Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act
Oct 02, 2009 8:00 AM -
Yesterday [October 1, 2009] APTA submitted a Statement for the Record to the Committee on Veteran Affairs, which held a hearing on HR 1036, the Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act, introduced by Rep Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD). The bill will take the Physical Therapy Qualification Standards that were instituted in February by Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric K. Shinseki and make them law, create a Director of Physical Therapy Services, and create fellowship programs for physical therapists within the VA in four specialized areas of practice (geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma and rehabilitation research).
"The need for high quality rehabilitation provided by physical therapists has never been greater with the dual challenges of caring for the chronic diseases faced by aging veterans and the multifaceted profile of many of today’s wounded warriors," said APTA.
In her testimony on behalf of the bill, Rep Herseth-Sandlin said, "...the VA is presented today with a unique and challenging patient population. There are large numbers of aging veterans as well as men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with complex impairments. Both of these groups require a full range of physical therapy services that can keep pace with modern advancements and techniques in the field…this legislation will help ensure veterans have access to the full range of physical therapy services they need and deserve."
In addition, 4 veteran groups testified in support of the legislation, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans, of America and Paralyzed Veterans of America.
