Welcome to our Advocacy Hub for H.R.2480!
Advocate for pelvic health physical therapy services!
Contact Your State Rep
Take 2 minutes to call or e-mail your Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Find Your Rep!
Share Your Story
Your personal story and passionate advocacy can sway their support and drive action. Tell us about your journey!
Raise Public Awareness
View all the ways you can take action below and be sure to use our FREE comprehensive social media kit!
Key Information
Pelvic health physical therapy plays a crucial role in postpartum recovery. It helps with muscle control, tissue repair, and healing internal parts of cesarean section scars. Unfortunately, many mothers are unaware of these benefits and do not have access to pelvic health physical therapy. Even some healthcare providers may not recognize its importance during the postpartum period, leading to delays or lack of appropriate care, which can result in long-term negative consequences for mothers.
✅ This bill mandates that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provide guidelines to ensure Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover prenatal and postpartum pelvic health services.
✅ The bill instructs the Government Accountability Office to investigate gaps in Medicaid coverage for postpartum women, focusing on these and other essential services.
✅ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are required to educate both healthcare professionals and postpartum women about the availability and benefits of pelvic health services.
APTA Members, Download the APTA Advocacy App
Patients, Visit the Patient Action Center
Why It Matters
Our goal is to gain more co-sponsors for this bill before the 118th Congress ends, ensuring it becomes a priority at the start of the 119th Congress in 2025.
As a pelvic health physical therapist, you know how vital comprehensive postpartum care is for the well-being of new mothers. H.R.2480 is crucial for enhancing your ability to offer optimal care. By supporting this bill, you’re helping ensure your patients get the best care possible, leading to healthier and happier lives. Here’s why your support is essential:
🔓 Improve Maternal Health Outcomes: Ensure all new mothers receive the critical support they need for a healthy recovery.
🔓 Expand Access to Holistic Care: Make pelvic health physical therapy accessible to more women, especially those covered by Medicaid and CHIP.
🔓 Support Professional Practice: Increase awareness and recognition of the vital role pelvic health PTs play in postpartum care.
Refer Your Patient to Receive Postpartum Care
Latest Progress on H.R.2480
Stay informed about the ongoing developments and key updates on H.R.2480. As an APTA Member, you can join the APTA Advocacy Network. Nonmembers are invited to visit Congress.gov to receive alerts.
Ready to Take Action? Here's What You Need!
APTA Members, Take Quick Action by Downloading the APTA Advocacy App
Patients, Take Quick Action by Visiting the APTA Patient Action Center
Download Your Social Media Press KitI am a Medical Professional
- Educate Yourself: Review the APTA Position Statement on H.R.2480 to understand the bill's impact on postpartum care and the critical role of pelvic health physical therapy.
- Contact Your Representative: Email, call, or schedule meetings with your state representative. Share data, professional insights, and stories from your practice on the benefits of H.R.2480.
3. Engage on Social Media: Post about H.R.2480 using APTA-approved hashtags and tag your representative. Share educational content and encourage your colleagues to join the conversation. Don't forget to mention @APTApelvic, @APTAtweets, @APTAStudents, @Choose_PT, @your representative, @the persons who attended the meeting!
Medical Professionals, Refer Your Patients to Services
4. Participate in Advocacy Events: Attend webinars, town halls, and social media blitzes. Encourage fellow healthcare professionals to join advocacy efforts and share educational materials with patients.
I am a Patient
- Educate Yourself: Learn about H.R.2480 and its benefits for postpartum care, including the importance of pelvic health physical therapy for new mothers.
- Contact Your Representative: Email, call, or schedule a meeting with your state representative. Share your personal experiences and explain how H.R.2480 would benefit you and other new mothers.
Download a Letter Template to Send to Your Rep
3. Engage on Social Media: Post about H.R.2480, tag your representative, and use relevant hashtags. Encourage others to spread the word and join the cause. Don't forget to mention @your representative and @the persons who attended the meeting!
4. Participate in Advocacy Events: Join webinars, online forums, and social media campaigns. Invite friends, family, and community members to support and advocate for H.R.2480.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Whether you're a medical professional or a patient, your voice matters in this advocacy effort! Join us in making a difference by spreading the word within your community.
Example for the Medical Professional
Congressional Office: Good Morning, you've reached the Senator/Congressperson office. This is intern Bob Smith.
PT/PTA: Good Morning Bob. This is Mary Francis, a constituent of the Senator/Congressperson. Is the Health Legislative Assistant available for a brief conversation?
Congressional Office: Yes, they are available. OR No, may I take a message?
PT/PTA: I would like to ask the Senator/Congress person for his/her support on H.R.2480: Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act (OPO). I’m curious if you are familiar with this bill?
Congressional Office: No. I’m not aware of it.
PT/PTA: H.R.2480 is important to both my profession as a pelvic health physical therapist, as well as to the population I serve. Followed by an example or 2 of how this legislation will positively impact your patients.
APTA Members, Take Quick Action by Downloading the APTA Advocacy App
Alternative Downloadable Letter to Send to Your Rep
Example for the Patient
Congressional Office: Good Morning, you've reached the Senator/Congressperson's office. This is intern Bob Smith.
Patient: Good Morning, Bob. My name is Mary Patient, a constituent of the Senator/Congressperson. Is the health legislative assistant available for a brief conversation?
Congressional Office: Yes, they are available. OR No, may I take a message?
Patient: I'd like to ask the Senator/Congressperson for their support on H.R.2480: Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act (OPO). Are you familiar with this bill?
Congressional Office: No, I'm not aware of it.
Patient: H.R.2480 is crucial for improving postpartum care. As a new mother, I've seen firsthand how vital pelvic health physical therapy is for recovery. This bill will ensure more mothers get the care they need to recover fully and live healthier lives. Followed by an example or 2 of how this legislation has positively impacted you.
Patients, Take Quick Action by Visiting the APTA Patient Action Center
The best time to act is now, especially before Congress takes its August recess. This period is ideal for scheduling in-person meetings, attending town halls, and engaging directly with your representatives while they are in their districts. Additionally, another prime opportunity will be in October when Congress members return to their districts for campaigning. Taking action during these times maximizes the impact of your advocacy efforts for H.R.2480.
If you are planning to schedule an in-person meeting, the best time would be in August or October. During these months, your representative will be back in your hometown waiting to learn more about H.R.2480. Please refer to Congress.gov for a calendar of recent legislative activities.
By participating in the social media blitz, you can help raise awareness and support for H.R.2480, making a significant impact on postpartum care!
- Use Pre-Made Graphics: Download and share educational graphics from the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy’s social media kit.
- Tag Your Representatives: Tag your state and federal representatives in your posts to make sure they see your message. Other handles: @APTAtweets, @APTApelvic, @APTAStudents, @Choose_PT
- Share Your Story: Post a personal story about how pelvic health physical therapy has impacted your life or someone you know. Use hashtags like #HR2480, #PostpartumHealth, #OptimizingPostpartumOutcomes
- Keep the Momentum Going: Post regularly throughout the blitz period to educate your community. Consistent engagement can amplify the campaign’s reach.
It aids in muscle control, tissue repair, and healing, significantly improving long-term health outcomes for new mothers.
The bill supports healthcare professionals by increasing access to necessary resources and raising awareness about the importance of pelvic health physical therapy.
- Contact Your State Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives: Calling, emailing, attending a town hall meeting in your district, and scheduling an in-person meeting are all great ways to ask your Rep for support! Find Your Members in the U.S. Congress.
- Share Your Story: Sharing personal stories is a powerful way to advocate for HR 2480. Whether you are a medical professional or a patient, your experience can make a difference.
- Raise Public Awareness on Social Media: Share your stories within your community and use our comprehensive social media toolkit to help educate your social network.
Share Your Birth Story
Sharing personal stories is a powerful way to advocate for H.R.2480. Whether you are a medical professional or a patient, your experience makes a difference.