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Home Media Blog Do you know what Direct Access is?
January 20, 2020

Do you know what Direct Access is?

by Katie DuFrene, DPT

Direct Access is a term used in physical therapy that refers to the ability to be evaluated by a PT without a referral from a physician first. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, all 50 states now have some form of direct access, although there are a few hurdles in some cases. The “hurdles” refers to the fact that some insurance companies still require a referral in order for reimbursement.  This means that while the state will allow you to be seen, the insurance will not necessarily pay for it.  Still some other insurance companies will allow patients to be seen via direct access but will require documentation of a plan of care or may restrict the number of visits allowed based on each individual plan.  With all that said, many insurance companies DO recognize the cost savings and benefits to allowing physical therapy first.  If you’ve ever been in the position where you had pain so you were seen by your primary care doctor, then sent for imaging, then referred to a specialist, then finally sent to therapy, it is easy to see how much time and money is wasted on this process when one could have walking into a physical therapy office from the start. Of course, if you are ever unsure you can call your insurance company directly and ask if a referral is required.

If you or someone you know needs an evaluation with our physical therapy team feel free to contact our office at 301-694-8311 or visit our website at www.mmidocs.com. We are dedicated to helping you live your best life.

About Us

Our goal at MMI Division of the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics is to offer each patient the highest quality of life with the least risk. We offer a full range of orthopedic care, including sports rehabilitation, joint replacement, rheumatology, hand and upper extremity care, foot and ankle care, and pediatric orthopedics. Our physicians are committed to exhausting every conservative treatment option before recommending surgical intervention. Patients who require surgery are fully informed of the details of the procedure, any potential risks, and the post-surgical rehabilitation process during their consultation with our orthopedic specialists of Frederick.

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