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Sponsor and clinicians push bill to cap physical‑therapy copays at primary‑care levels
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Summary
H 7429 would limit patient cost‑sharing for physical therapy to amounts authorized for primary care visits, aiming to reduce per‑visit financial barriers that providers say deter course completion and increase downstream costs.
Providence — Representative Bennett described H 7 429, a bill to limit copayments, coinsurance and deductibles for physical‑therapy visits to the same amounts that apply to primary‑care physician visits.
Physician and therapy witnesses told the Committee that routine co‑pays — quoted in testimony at about $35 on average and in some cases as high as $75 per visit — can deter attendance and completion of recommended therapy programs. Greg Doucette, speaking for physician and PT interests, said early access to physical therapy reduces downstream use of imaging, injections and surgery and cited studies showing cost savings for conditions including low‑back pain and knee osteoarthritis.
Supporters argued aligning patient cost‑sharing with primary‑care rates would improve access for low‑income patients and reduce longer‑term costs for insurers and the health system. The Committee closed the hearing and invited stakeholders to submit additional empirical evidence on reimbursement levels and projected fiscal impacts.
Next steps: sponsors and committee staff will collect reimbursement and utilization data to support fiscal analyses before any markup.
