Did You Know You Can See a Physical Therapist Without a Referral?
Not everyone knows you can go directly to your physical therapist if you are dealing with pain or an injury. It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with an old or new problem. You can schedule a visit with one of our therapists to get help sooner rather than later.
In the medical community, Direct Access is the ability to see a physical therapist when you want to without getting permission from your physician or medical practitioner.
Physical therapists routinely assess and treat patients without a physician’s recommendation. You can call us directly at Connecticut Physical Therapy Specialists in West Hartford, Glastonbury or Granby, CT, and we’ll schedule your appointment today!
Direct Access eliminates time spent making an appointment to see a doctor, then the delays in getting a referral to physical therapy and waiting for an appointment to see the therapist.
Another benefit of seeing your physical therapist immediately is the cost savings. Beyond the cost of copayments to see your physician or being sent to a specialist paying another copay and finally getting sent to physical therapy, you can save money and see our team directly.
Direct Access is all about having the freedom to make your own decisions without being bound by outdated rules. It allows you to be in charge of your healthcare so you can focus on your recovery instead of waiting for another appointment to get you the help you need today!
Direct Access also helps you save money, schedule when you want, and speeds up your recovery so you can get relief and get back to doing what you love. If a therapist recognizes symptoms that fall out of the scope of physical therapy, they can refer patients to a physician or appropriate specialist. Direct Access gives patients the chance to advocate for their own healthcare, and physical therapists the chance to advocate their practice expertise. If you have questions about Direct Access or would like to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist, contact Connecticut Physical Therapy Specialists today!
Confusion about Direct Access
In the past, insurance companies required patients to obtain a physician’s referral or prescription before seeking physical therapy treatment. This policy meant additional appointments, costs, commuting, and delays in patient care. The delays in treatment that patients experienced often result in surgeries that could have been avoided, permanent injuries, and the prolonged use of opiates for pain management.
Although the term direct access has been around for decades, not everyone outside the physical therapy profession knows about it or what it actually means. The old-fashioned healthcare model has been updated to provide patients with better access to physical therapy services.
There is a lot of evidence that early or Direct Access to physical therapy reduces waiting time, lowers costs, improves convenience for the patient and health care system, and, most importantly, improves recovery time.
Scheduling directly with your physical therapists is important in all areas of physical therapy, including outpatient physical therapy, pediatrics, private home care, school districts, hospitals, and even the sports fields. Direct Access is much more common than the general public and other medical practitioners realize. While the program continues to have some limitations, Direct Access laid the foundation for regulations to be revised in the future and ensure that you receive the care you need, when you want it.
How direct access laws affect health insurance
Unfortunately, the health insurance sector is changing and is different from carrier to carrier. Direct Access covers a wide range of private health insurance carriers, but it is necessary to check what your insurance covers, no matter what!
Physical therapists stay in regular communication with your physician no matter what. Our physical therapist submits your plan of care to be reviewed and signed off on by a registered doctor. Medicare is a major insurance provider, and fortunately, when your physical therapist creates a treatment plan, Medicare will cover the cost of the service.
There are numerous advantages to having Direct Access to physical therapy. For example, patients report a higher level of satisfaction when they receive physical therapy through Direct Access versus physician referral. In addition, patients receiving physical therapy through direct Access versus referral had better outcomes at discharge.
Request an appointment today
Direct Access is changing your ability to decide when to see your physical therapist and improving your Access to healthcare. If you or someone you love would like to learn more about Direct Access to physical therapy or how physical therapy helps you with any condition you are dealing with, schedule an appointment with a West Hartford, Glastonbury or Granby, CT physical therapist.
Your Next Steps…
- Request An Appointment
- Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
- Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
- Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free
