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For Immediate Release Contact: Betsy Hart
August 01, 2008 (202) 226-8555

HERSETH SANDLIN INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES FOR VETERANS

Bill Would Enhance Recruitment, Retention of VA Physical Therapists

Washington, DC, August 1, 2008- Today, Rep. Herseth Sandlin introduced the “Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2008.” This bill would improve the recruitment and retention of physical therapists (PTs) treating our nation’s veterans by creating a Director of Physical Therapy Service at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), enhancing qualifications for appointment of physical therapists who serve veterans and establishing a fellowship program for physical therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma care and rehabilitation research.

“The combination of men and women returning every day from Iraq and Afghanistan with complex impairments and an aging veteran population has created a shortage of PTs at the VA and demands that the range and quality of physical therapy services offered to those who have served our country in uniform keep pace with modern advancements and techniques,” Herseth Sandlin said. “The bill I introduced this morning would attract the most qualified physical therapists to the VA and help meet this growing need to provide access to superior physical therapy services to those who have bravely served and sacrificed.”

Currently, over 1000 PTs are employed by the Veterans Health Administration providing care to our nation’s veterans. PTs practice across the continuum of care from primary care settings and wellness programs to disease prevention and post-trauma rehabilitation. The facts:

• 9.2 million veterans are age 65 or older (38% of veterans) and by 2033, older veterans will represent 45% of the total. For these older veterans, PTs are integral in fall prevention and type 2 diabetes prevention strategies.
• Over 33,000 service members have been wounded in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom; many have multiple serious injuries such as amputations and traumatic brain injury (TBI) that require complex rehabilitation provided by PTs.

Competition is high for PT graduates. The Department of Labor (DOL) presently recognizes two health care occupations, nurses and physical therapists that are experiencing a significant shortage under its labor shortage determination authority. The DOL also projects an increasing need for physical therapists with a job growth of greater than 25%. Given the shortage of PTs and the increased need, the VA needs to be more competitive in the current marketplace to recruit and retain an adequate number of PTs to provide service to our nation’s veterans.

The “Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2008” improves the quality of PT services available to veterans first by creating a Director of Physical Therapy Service at the VHA. Currently physical therapists do not have a seat at the Director level table at the VHA. Having a voice at this level that reports directly to the Undersecretary for Health would ensure that as the profession advances, the VA keeps it up to date with issues related to the profession’s education, qualifications, clinical privileges, and scope of practice.

The legislation also enhances the education requirements and offerings to VA PTs. First, it updates the qualifications necessary for the appointment of VA PTs to reflect modern practice and education requirements. Additionally, the bill assists in the recruitment of qualified physical therapists to the VHA in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma care and rehabilitation research by establishing fellowship programs in these areas.

The “Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2008” is supported by the American Physical Therapy Association.

“The American Physical Therapy Association is very gratified to see the introduction of legislation in the US House of Representatives today that will significantly enhance the recognition and provision of physical therapy services in the US Department of Veterans Affairs,” said R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD, President of the 72,000-member American Physical Therapy Association “We commend Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin of South Dakota and Congressman John Boozman of Arkansas for their leadership in introducing the “Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act” and pledge to them our complete support in seeing this bill enacted into law as swiftly as possible. By creating a director-level position for physical therapy services within the Veterans Administration, updating the qualifications for physical therapists in the VA, and establishing a fellowship program to assist in recruiting physical therapists specializing in geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma care, and rehabilitation research, this legislation is a tremendously important step forward in assuring that our veterans receive the highest quality physical therapy and rehabilitative care.”

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.