APTA Board, Nominating Committee Recommendations Due March 10

APTA National

Do you know an APTA member who would make an exceptional leader in the association?

The APTA Nominating Committee is seeking recommendations for national office, including positions on the APTA Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. Positions open for election are APTA secretary, vice speaker of the House of Delegates, three directors on the APTA Board, and two Nominating Committee members.

To submit names of qualified members — including your own — for consideration for the upcoming election cycle, visit APTA's Nominations and Elections webpage and use the online Recommendations for National Office Form. Elections will occur in November, with elected individuals assuming office on Jan. 1, 2026.

Get More Information on Responsibilities, Core Attributes, and Processes

What's expected of an elected leader? What personal qualities position someone for success in those roles? How does the recommendation and nomination process work? APTA’s Nominations and Elections webpage provides answers.

APTA Top Advocacy Priorities Established for 2025-26

APTA National

As our health care system continues to evolve and adapt, so do APTA's public policy priorities. Coinciding with the new congressional session, APTA has released "APTA Public Policy Priorities, 2025-2026." This updated legislative and policy agenda reflects progress made in 2024, particularly on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, while focusing on how the profession can continue to have an impact moving forward.
Developed by the APTA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, informed by a range of member experts, and approved by the APTA Board of Directors, the priorities establish a road map for the association's advocacy efforts on behalf of PTs and PTAs. The document reflects the changing state of the health care world, with specific references to the need to increase payment and decrease administrative burden, while recognizing emerging issues such as the use of artificial intelligence in health care.

Collaborating on Top Priorities

• Patient Access and Care: APTA urges Congress and the administration to improve patient outcomes by eliminating barriers to health care services.
  
  
• Population Health and Social Determinants of Health: APTA urges Congress and the administration to enact policies that empower all people regardless of where they are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age to live healthy and independent lives.
  
  
• Value-Based Care and Practice: APTA urges Congress and the administration to facilitate and support payment infrastructures that will ensure that patients achieve the best outcomes commensurate with the cost of care.
  
  
• Research and Clinical Innovation: APTA urges Congress and the administration to prioritize research and clinical innovation to advance the science, effectiveness, and efficacy of physical therapist evaluation and management to optimize the health, well-being, and recovery of individuals, communities, and populations across the lifespan.

Gabbard, RFK Jr. Pass Committee Hurdles in Win for Trump

The Hill / BY Al Weaver and Nathaniel Weixel

Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday cleared crucial hurdles toward winning Senate confirmation, handing President Trump a key win as he looks for an early display of loyalty from GOP lawmakers.

Gabbard and Kennedy overcame high-stakes committee votes that went down to the wire in their bids to lead the U.S. Intelligence apparatus and the Department of Health and Human Services, respectively.

Skeptical Republicans on each committee made the decision to back them in the final days before the votes after Trump officials, including Vice President Vance, and other GOP leaders cajoled them into maintaining an unblemished slate of nominees who have gone through the committee process. 

How the process played out underscores how wary Republicans are of incurring Trump’s wrath only weeks into his administration.

“They’re not going to go against him. If they go against him, they go against 77 million people,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said, referring to Trump’s popular vote total in November. “I don’t think they want that if they want [to get] reelected.”

Both nominees now appear likely to be confirmed on the Senate floor in the coming week, though the final votes could be close. Democrats remain vehemently opposed to both nominees, and there are a handful of Republicans who haven’t said how they intend to vote…

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Musk’s DOGE Team Mines for Fraud at Medicare, Medicaid

Modern Healthcare / By Riley Griffin and Madison Muller

Elon Musk’s team at the Department of Government Efficiency has been on-site at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to mine key systems for examples of what they consider fraud or waste, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The DOGE representatives have gained access to payment and contracting systems, according to the person, who asked not to be named discussing internal matters. They have also been working to cancel diversity, equity and inclusion-focused contracts at CMS and more broadly across the Department of Health and Human Services, the person said, including with organizations like Deloitte. 

Elon Musk’s team of government efficiency enforcers have been tearing through U.S. agencies, including the Treasury Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The group, run by the world’s richest person and President Donald Trump’s largest donor, says it’s trying to cut costs and staffing levels across the U.S. government.

But the group’s actions are stirring up controversy among staffers, some of whom have tried to block DOGE representatives from accessing information, as well as lawsuits from unions that accuse agencies of illegally letting their members’ information be shared with DOGE. On Tuesday, USAID said most of its 10,000 employees will be placed on administrative leave starting Friday…

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