Proponents of Direct Access feel that patients should have access to quality rehab therapy providers of their choice instead of having to navigate through the referral process with their physician. This process of making appointments, scheduling exams and waiting for insurance authorization can take up to six months or longer in some cases.
Physical Therapists are licensed, educated and fully accredited to provide treatment. Direct access to physical therapist services helps save patient costs, time and unnecessary office visits. Most important, direct access provides faster pain relief and recovery.
The CPTA has made it easy for physical therapists to write their legislators in support of Direct Access with handy letter templates to email directly to your congressperson. There is also a patient version that therapists can provide to patients so they can also get involved.
Some therapists are not in complete favor of Direct Access and prefer physician referrals and diagnoses, as it helps protect therapists from making an improper evaluation. It also allows therapists to focus on quality treatment and patient pain relief instead of diagnosing.
What do you think? Where do you stand on the issue of Direct Access?
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