In 2014, Jill Marlan, CEO and Owner of Peak Performance Physical Therapy, along with fellow health care professionals and state legislators, banded together to pass a new law allowing Michigan Residents to access care from a Physical Therapist (PT) or Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) without prior authorization from their doctor. This was a huge win for Michigan residents and the medical community.
What is Direct Access Physical Therapy in Michigan?
Public Act 260 of 2014 says that PTs and PTAs can provide direct access to physical therapy to patients without prior authorization or referral prescription. However, most insurance carriers still require a signed plan of care from a physician to bill your insurance. Please check with your insurance company to determine if you can use your benefits to cover direct access to physical therapy care.
Direct access law says that a patient can receive care from a PT or PTA for up to 21 days or ten visits before requiring a referral or prescription from their doctor.
At Peak Performance Physical Therapy, our goal is to help people in pain get better without invasive procedures like surgery, injections, or narcotics.
We are a local women-owned practice that is nationally recognized as a cutting-edge leader in Physical Therapy. We care about our local communities and love spending time with our neighbors and helping them get better.
If you or someone you know is in pain, we can help.
Reach Your Peak with Peak Performance Physical Therapy.
FAQ
Do I need to see my doctor to get a referral?
No, thanks to the direct access law, a prescription for physical therapy is not needed for your initial evaluation. However, we pride ourselves on treating the whole patient and collaborating with your doctor on the best care plan for you. The results of your evaluation and plan of care will be sent to your primary care physician or specialty doctor, who will then review the information and, in most cases, provide a prescription for care.
Details
What is a signed plan of care?
After your initial evaluation, you and your physical therapist will discuss a plan of care; this is just an outline of what your care will look like for the duration of your visits with your physical therapist and how your treatments will go. Your plan of care will then be sent to your primary care or specialist physician to be reviewed, approved, and signed.
Most insurance companies require a signed plan of care by a physician to cover the care you receive. If it is in your insurance policy that direct access care is not accepted and your physician chooses not to sign the plan of care, it will fall under your responsibility to cover the costs of your care.
If your insurance benefits do not cover your physical therapy treatments, our office will be able to help you make convenient payment arrangements for your treatment.
How long can I see a PT or PTA before getting a referral from my doctor?
Direct access law says that a patient can receive care from a PT or PTA for up to 21 days or ten visits before requiring a referral or prescription from their doctor.