Direct Access
What is Direct Access?
Direct Access allows you to be evaluated and treated by a licensed physical therapist in Washington, DC, without a prescription or referral from a physician.
How can I benefit from Direct Access?
Direct Access provides you with immediate and economical access to physical therapy services. In a study conducted to determine whether direct access to physical therapy services is cost effective, it was found that:*
- The total paid claims for physician referral episodes to physical therapists was 123%, or 2.2 times higher than the paid claims for Direct Access episodes. (The total paid claims averaged $2,236 for "physician referral" episodes as compared to $1,004 for Direct Access episodes.)
- Physician referral episodes were 65% longer in duration than Direct Access episodes.
- Physician referral episodes generated 67% more physical therapy claims and 60% more office visits than Direct Access episodes.
Will my insurance cover my visits?
Although all patients in Washington, DC, have direct access to physical therapy care, each health insurance company has its own requirements for coverage. Some health insurance companies require their members to have a referral from a physician for physical therapy services. We recommend that you contact your insurance company to confirm your benefits. Because we are a non-participating provider, you are responsible for any charges not covered by your insurance company.
What if I need a physician in addition to physical therapy care?
SSPT will refer you to a physician if your physical therapist determines that your condition requires a physician's evaluation.
* Mitchell, Jean M. and de Lissovoy, Gregory. Research Report: A Comparison of Resource Use and Cost in Direct Access Versus Physician Referral Episodes of Physical Therapy. Physical Therapy, 77, January 1997. Download PDF
* American Physical Therapy Association rationale for Direct Access to physical therapy services: http://www.apta.org
