1. Short title; findings (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2023 . (b) Findings Congress finds as follows: (1) Physical therapists play an important role in the prevention, treatment, or management of pain for individuals, including those with substance use disorders, or at risk of developing a substance use disorder. (2) Physical therapists are also playing an important role in the physical rehabilitation needs of individuals who have developed chronic health conditions as a result of COVID–19. (3) Physical therapist services are an essential component of the multidisciplinary undertaking that will be required to improve patient access and outcomes in medically underserved areas. 2. National Health Service Corps; participation of physical therapists in loan repayment program (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