(a)
Mission of corps; definition of primary health services— Section 331(a)(3)(D) of the Public Health Service Act (
42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3)(D)) is amended by striking “or mental health,” and inserting “mental health, or physical therapy,”.
(b)
Physical therapy health professional target areas— Section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (
42 U.S.C. 254e) is amended by adding at the end:
“(l) Physical therapy health professional target areas
“(1) In general—The Secretary shall carry out a program of—
“(A) identifying physical therapy health professional target areas; and
“(B) assigning members of the Corps who are physical therapists to such areas.
“(2) Applicable provisions—The provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (6) of subsection (k) shall apply to the identification of physical therapy health professional target areas and the assignment of physical therapists under this subsection except that—
“(A) references to maternity care health professional target areas shall be treated as references to physical therapy health professional target areas; and
“(B) references to maternity care health professionals and maternity care shall be treated as references to physical therapists and physical therapy, respectively.”
(c)
Loan repayment program— Section 338B of the Public Health Service Act (
42 U.S.C. 254l–1) is
amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)(1), by inserting “physical therapists,” after “dentists,”;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
by striking “(1)(A) have a degree in” and all that follows through the end of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
“(1)
“(A)
“(i) have a degree in medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or another health profession, or an appropriate degree from a graduate program of behavioral and mental health;
“(ii) be certified as a nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant; or
“(iii) have a doctoral or master’s degree in physical therapy;”
(B)
in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting “physical therapy,” after “mental health,”; and
(C)
in paragraph (1)(C)(ii), by inserting “physical therapy,” after “dentistry,”; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
“(i) Eligibility To participate in other programs—Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any health care professional who is eligible to participate in the program under this section from participating in any other loan repayment program established by the Secretary for which such professional is eligible.”