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Use templated letters to take action on payment and regulatory issues impacting your practice.
APTA comments are made on behalf of our membership and profession on federal regulations and draft guidance based on the Public Policy Priorities of the American Physical Therapy Association.
We encourage members and nonmembers to provide feedback: Your perspectives are critical to policy development. APTA has developed tools to help you easily draft a personalized comment letter using APTA's comment letter guide. Alternatively, you can use one of our prewritten template letters to submit comments.
Current Opportunities
On January 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education released the Reimagining and Improving Student Education proposed rule that, if enacted, would reclassify dozens of professional degree programs (including physical therapy) as "graduate degree programs" for the purposes of federal student loan borrowing limits. ;Under this proposal, "graduate degree programs" would have an annual borrowing limit of $20,500 and a lifetime cap of $100,000. In contrast, programs designated as "professional degree programs" would continue to have a $50,000 annual limit and a $200,000 total cap. As a result, future physical therapy students would face significantly lower federal student loan limits. While APTA supports efforts to reduce the cost of education this proposal runs congressional intent and would create new barriers for prospective students while negatively affecting the health care workforce at a time of nationwide shortages.
If you would like to raise your voice, head to the Patient Action Center to submit a letter to the department urging it to classify the doctor of physical therapy as a professional degree with access to the higher loan limits. Comments are due March 2, 2026.
General Template Letter
If a specific template letter above does not apply, use our standard template letter to submit comments.
Simply insert your individual information where indicated.
Your comments represent only you and your situation; they should not imply representation of the association.
Other Ways to Engage
Federal agencies frequently seek input from stakeholders and national experts on proposed payment and coverage policies, research agendas, quality measures, and more. The selection process for federal committees, task forces, panels, and commissions is competitive.
Participation in these groups demonstrates both expertise in your field and a commitment to your profession, which will be reflected on your CV for years to come. Serving on such a committee allows you to make invaluable contributions to your area of expertise and raise recognition of the physical therapy profession. While serving requires a small time commitment, the time is well spent and is a great way to develop networks and make contacts with fellow experts from across the nation.
If you are interested in serving on a federal committee, task force, or advisory panel, please contact the APTA Advocacy team and provide your name, contact information, and a brief biographical sketch.