Q & A WITH
Mike
Q: Do I need a referral for Physical Therapy? M: In most cases you do NOT need a referral for Physical Therapy from your doctor. In Washington State, patients are allowed to come directly to physical therapists without needing a referral. Q: Are there any exceptions to this rule? M: There are a few. One good example is Worker’s Compensation injuries. If a patient has an approved work claim, they need to have a referral for PT. While not required, I strongly suggest that any patient injured in a car accident get a referral. Q: Can my insurance require that I have a referral for PT? M: Yes they can. However, this is pretty rare. The reason is that insurance companies now realize that in healthcare, Physical Therapy is very cheap and very effective compared to doctor visits, tests, medications, and specialists. Many insurance companies now require that PTs do our own authorization directly without needing referrals. Q: What about Medicare? M: Medicare has its own rules. According to Medicare, patients can be seen directly by a Physical Therapist for an initial visit and up to 30 days of treatment. To continue treatment a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant must sign a plan of care for PT. For our Medicare patients, we send a plan of care and treatment summary to your doctor for you. 99% of the time, your doctor will see the plan of care and sign it and then send it back to us. Q: What if my injury is really bad? M: All of our staff has years of experience treating patients. If a patient comes directly to us and we have concerns about your injury, we will send you to your doctor or give you a recommendation if you need one. Additionally, as is always the case, if we are not getting the results we expect in PT, we will assist you in getting additional tests or examinations from a doctor or specialist. Q: How do I know if my insurance requires a referral for physical therapy? M: Just flip your insurance card over and call the 1-800 number on the back. Ask the person on the phone if you need a referral for “Outpatient Physical Therapy”. This information is also available online for most insurance companies. Q: What if I have pain, but I’m not sure if PT is right for me? M: Give us a call (425.820.2110) or send us an email (info@waptrehab.com). In fact, for anyone reading this, I’m going to offer a FREE Injury Screen to any of our current or former patients. If you are having pain or any trouble doing the things that you want to enjoy this summer, come on in for a Free Injury Screen with one of our PTs. Feel free to extend this offer to a friend or family member.
FREE INJURY SCREEN Start feeling better today. We can help!
Current and past patients schedule your free injury screen today!
6725 116th Ave NE Ste 130 Kirkland, WA 98033 425.820.2110
WWW.WAPTREHAB.COM
Expires 8/20/18
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