You’ve finally had enough of the pain from your injury or physical issue. You know that going to see a physical therapist is the answer to getting relief from your pain, but you may be wondering, do you need a referral to see one? The answer is yes, and no.
It’s not a trick answer! In many states you, as a patient, have direct access, or the ability to legally see a physical therapist without a referral from a doctor. You could walk in off the street and ask for treatment, and they will give it to you. That’s the no. The yes comes in when you bring health insurance into the equation.
Most health insurers require you to get a referral from a doctor before they will pay the bill. If you make the mistake of assuming that they will pay without one, you might just be stuck paying the entire bill.
If you aren’t sure, call your insurance company. They will be able to tell you if you need a referral, and also what you might be responsible for, such as co-pays or the need to meet a deductible before they start helping to pay. The exception might be if you are in a car accident. Car insurance personal injury policies often pay what is necessary without referrals needed.
If you find that you do need a referral, it will mean making an appointment to see your primary care physician, in most cases, or a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner to start figuring out the problem and a path to solving it.
If that includes physical therapy, your medical provider will write out a referral for you to go see one.
If your doctor won’t agree, you can go to a different doctor for a second opinion, and it is always your right to look into physical therapy yourself. Just remember that you may have to pay for it yourself if your insurance requires a referral. Many physical therapy practices have a free pain consultation, so that might be a great place to start as well.
If you are in the Denver area, please sign up for a FREE Pain Evaluation today at Specialized Physical Therapy!
