Question 1

Do I need a doctor's orders to schedule physical therapy?

Accepted Answer

In Illinois, patients have direct access to physical therapy services without a physician's referral. However, Medicare will ALWAYS require orders from a physician and many insurance companies will require orders for payment. We encourage you to contact your insurer to determine if they will reimburse for direct access physical therapy services. Whether or not you have orders, we will send a Plan of Care to your primary care or referring physician outlining the duration of treatment and planned interventions in efforts to reduce reimbursement issues from insurers.

Question 2

How many visits will it take to resolve my condition?

Accepted Answer

There is a lot of variability with the number of visits patients are seen for physical therapy. Generally, the more acute your condition is, the fewer visits it will take. Acute low back or neck pain, an ankle sprain or patellofemoral pain can often be resolved with 1-2 visits per week for 6 weeks. If you have had 30 years of back pain with multiple surgeries, have been treated with radiation/surgery for cancer or a hypermobility syndrome, treatment can go on much longer. Chronic conditions often require management, rather than an expectation of a cure, where manual therapy and exercise are used to minimize symptoms and maximize function. Those patients can be seen for a few courses of physical therapy each year or with ongoing care, depending on the individual's needs.

Question 3

Can I be seen if Precision is out of network from my insurer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We have cash pay options that will allow you to be seen. You can be billed for $150 per 40 min session or pay $125 at the time of service. At the conclusion of your course of treatment (or earlier upon request), an itemized bill with diagnosis/treatment codes and your payment history will be provided for you to provide to your insurer. This could result in reimbursement from the insurance company or payments applying to your deductible.

Frequently Asked Questions