WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (AR-01) and Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) introduced legislation late last week to create federal student loan repayment benefits for physical therapists who elect to work in underserved areas.  The bill has already garnered the support from more than 40 other members of Congress.

"In rural America, the quality of healthcare is undeniably linked to the availability of services.  It can be a real challenge to attract and keep expert physical therapists.  As a result we should use the same incentives for them as we are able to use to keep registered nurses, medical technicians, and other personnel in underserved communities.  The student loan repayment provisions of the National Health Service Corps should certainly be available to physical therapists," Emerson said.

"Rural America deserves the best health care we can provide, including access to high-quality physical therapy programs." said Congressman Berry. "This legislation not only recognizes the critical role physical therapists play in helping Americans live healthy lives, but encourages gifted graduates to practice in underserved areas where the need for these programs far surpasses the number of qualified specialists."

In Southern Missouri, the Kenny Rogers Children's Center in Sikeston provides an example of the urgent need for physical therapists.  There, children with cerebral palsy receive treatments they cannot get anywhere else in the region. 

"I saw the urgent need for this type of legislation on my visit to the Kenny Rogers Children's Center last month.  I hope we can see swift action on this legislation so the Center, and other treatment facilities like it, can continue to serve the patients who need intense, frequent physical therapy," Emerson said.

In addition, the bill has garnered the early support of the American Physical Therapy Association, with over 66,000 members in the U.S.