Patients who have never done physical therapy often have many questions about how it works and what to expect. In this article, we are going to answer one of the most frequently asked questions many patients have about physical therapy – “do you need a prescription from your physician to get physical therapy?”
Doctor Prescriptions & Referrals
The answer to this question depends on the state in which you live. Some states require a prescription for any physical therapy treatment. Others don’t have any requirements. And still others (like Minnesota) fall somewhere in the middle.
Many patients find their way to physical therapy through their primary care doctor or surgeon. After an injury or a surgical procedure especially, many physicians will refer their patients out to a trusted physical therapist for further treatment. However, sometimes patients wish to seek physical therapy without having to go through their primary doctor. What is a patient to do in this situation?
Direct Access to Physical Therapy
In Minnesota, you can get up to 90 days of physical therapy without a prescription from your physician. This is known as direct access to care. Why do such restrictions exist, you might ask? Some states have regulations to prevent unscrupulous physical therapists from stringing patients along with unnecessary physical therapy.
In addition to these restrictions, your insurance may have additional rules you have to follow. Your physical therapy clinic should be able to help you with any insurance questions you may have.
At OrthoRehab Specialists, we offer direct access to physical therapy. If you are recovering from surgery, an injury, or you just want to see how physical therapy can benefit you, contact us today to set up an appointment. We have clinics in Edina and Minneapolis, but we see patients throughout the Twin Cities Metro, as well as greater Minnesota. Our licensed physical therapists have been treating Minnesota patients for over twenty-five years. We have established relationships with many physicians who routinely refer their patients to us for continued physical rehabilitation. Give us a call today and find out how physical therapy can make a difference in your life.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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