Taking an Active Role in Your Musculoskeletal Health
Patients today must take an active role in managing their own health care. To do this, you need to know about your options and your rights as a patient. Patients across the country are becoming better educated and demanding more options from their medical providers and health insurance companies. The right to physical therapy services is an important option, and it is your right as a patient.
Who needs Physical Therapy?
Most people require physical therapy services at during their life spectrum. Statistically speaking, everyone will need physical therapy at some point in their lifetime. We are all guilty of taking our musculoskeletal health for granted. Often, it is not until we experience injury or disease that affects our ability to move pain free that we begin to appreciate physical health. As healthcare providers and experts on musculoskeletal health, we encourage everyone to make a commitment to long term physical health. Maintaining physical health is not a passive endeavor, but rather an active, lifelong commitment. The role your physical therapist plays as your medical provider depends upon your physical needs. As the healthcare experts on musculoskeletal health, physical therapists remain a cost effective choice for prevention, management, and rehabilitation of your musculoskeletal system.
Direct Access to Physical Therapy?
Montana law provides patients with direct access to licensed physical therapists without a physician’s referral or prescription. That means that as a consumer of healthcare, you can seek medical treatment for your musculoskeletal issues directly from the physical therapist of your choosing. This places physical therapy as a frontline provider for your musculoskeletal health.
What does Direct Access mean for you?
- Immediate evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment from your physical therapist for your musculoskeletal injuries without the delay of visiting another healthcare professional.
- Immediate consultation with your physical therapist to determine if therapy is needed or if further examination by another healthcare practitioner is warranted.
- Strong potential for decreased healing time for your injury due to receiving treatment without delay.
- Freedom to choose a physical therapist as you would an MD, DO, chiropractor, dentist, or other healthcare professional.
- Continuity of care as you return to your physical therapist for all of your musculoskeletal needs, including relief from injury as well as prevention and overall wellness.
How do I find a good Physical Therapist?
Recommendations from family, friends, colleagues, and other healthcare providers you trust is the best way to find a good physical therapist. We recommend that once you establish a trusting relationship, you continue to view that physical therapist as a permanent member of your ongoing health care team. Good physical health doesn’t happen by accident, and having an expert as part of your health care team can make all the difference.
It is important to know that physical therapists are licensed by the state and require continuing education annually. Much like medical doctors, physical therapists graduate from school with extensive training in rehabilitation and tend to specialize once in practice. Consumers are advised to ask questions of their therapist to ensure their physical needs are met. Common questions may include the following: What is your treatment philosophy? What are your areas of expertise? What experience do you have in my specific condition? Open communication is important with all medical providers, and you should feel comfortable having these conversations with your therapist.
When should I call a Physical Therapist?
- Headache, neck, and back pain
- Joint pain (shoulder, knee, hip, foot, ankle, elbow)
- Any injury due to a fall or trauma
- Poor posture
- Jaw pain/TMJ
- Pre- and post-pregnancy issues
- Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Premature aging and decreased muscle tone
- Decreased ability to walk/general decreased mobility
- Poor balance
- Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia
- Pain/decreased mobility/decreased strength due to obesity
- Fatigue/poor endurance due to pulmonary dysfunction
Does my insurance company provide for direct access?
Physical therapy is a covered benefit under insurance plans. As licensed medical providers, physical therapists can be accessed directly without a referral or recommendation from your medical doctor for musculoskeletal issues. Insurance coverage for your physical therapy benefits are plan-specific. Most insurance companies do not require a referral from your physician, but some still do.
Medicare does not pay for direct access physical therapy at this time, but physical therapists can perform an evaluation under direct access. As long as a physician signs off on a treatment plan, we are able to bill Medicare.
We are happy to verify your physical therapy benefits for you prior to scheduling your first visit. Simply contact our clinic and we will outline your physical therapy benefits so you can make an informed decision. You will receive information on referral requirements, co-insurance, co-pays, and your total annual benefit. We do offer cash rates for your convenience and for services rendered outside insurance plan coverage, which can be very cost effective.