As a service to our patients and our community, Remobility Physical Therapy monitors legal and regulatory changes that impact patient access to health care and wellness options. Please read below for important information about a new law that will give you more choices for your physical therapy needs.
New Law Allows Self-Referral for Physical Therapy!
Effective July 1, 2015, the new healthcare Direct Access Law (HB 505) will allow patients in Georgia to seek evaluation and treatment from a licensed physical therapist for most therapy-related conditions without the need for initial diagnosis and referral from a physician. This will benefit patients by:
- Allowing them to begin care more quickly, thus resulting in the potential for more positive treatment outcomes;
- Reducing their out of pocket expenses due to the elimination of one or more physician referral visits;
- Decreasing their time away from work and family which previously occurred as a result of referral requirements.
According to the new law, patients may receive physical therapy treatment via self-referral for up to 8 visits or 21 calendar days, whichever occurs first. However, if no significant improvement is achieved, then the physical therapist must refer the patient to an alternate healthcare provider to seek further assessment of the condition. Medicare patients are also eligible for direct access to physical therapy services, but they will be required to have a medical doctor’s approval of their therapy treatment plan within 30 days of the first visit. The 8-visit/21-day limit does not apply to wellness services, specific neuromuscular disorders, or certain musculoskeletal conditions.
If you are in need of physical therapy services, please contact our staff to confirm physical therapy benefits and coverage before scheduling with us. For more information about the 2015 Direct Access Law, please visit http://www.apta.org/StateAdvocacy/Brief/2015/5/5/ (PDF document).
Remobility Physical Therapy is ready to serve your physical therapy needs. Our areas of expertise include:
- Sports injuries
- Joint replacement and post-surgical rehab
- Back/neck/head pain
- Shingles pain
- Neurological disorders
- Geriatric concerns
- Work injuries
If you would like to visit our office for evaluation and treatment, please contact us at 404-500-MyPT(6978) to schedule an appointment.