While healthcare concerns permeate the nation, many Americans with mobility problems are using their state's Direct Access measures to get the physical therapy care they need. Recent studies show that Direct Access has provided significant positive implications on the US health care system.
Direct Access, which has been legalized in 48 states, allows patients to go directly to a physical therapist without a doctor's referral, and have the visit paid for by an insurance provider.
Direct access to physical therapy services saves money for the patient and for the insurance companies by eliminating unnecessary visits to physicians offices when the purpose is solely to obtain a prescription. It also benefits the public by allowing for more timely identification and treatment of health problems and it has been demonstrated to minimize the necessity of long term care. Direct access allows us to treat our patients in a timely manner but we still maintain a great working relationship with their primary physician to maximize their recovery, said Dr. Desirea D. Caucci, PT, DPT of Conshohocken Physical Therapy.
A recent study, in the journal Health Services Research (HSR), reviewed 62,707 episodes of physical therapy using non-Medicare claims data from a Midwest insurer over a 5-year period. Patients who visited a physical therapist directly for outpatient care (27%) had fewer visits and lower overall costs on average than those who were referred by a physician, while maintaining continuity of care within the overall medical system and showing no difference in health care use in the 60 days after the physical therapy episode.
The study is noteworthy because services delivered by physical therapists account for "a significant portion" of outpatient care costs in the United States, according to the study, and some health insurance plans require a physician referral for reimbursement of these services.
Physical Therapists are motion experts. They help improve or restore the mobility you need to move forward with your life. They are well-qualified, both through formal education and clinical training, to evaluate a patient's condition, assess his or her physical therapy needs and, if appropriate, safely and effectively treat the patient. Physical therapists are also well-qualified to recognize when patients demonstrate conditions, signs and symptoms that should be evaluated by other health care professionals before therapy is instituted. Physical therapists recognize when it is appropriate to refer patients to these other health care professionals for consultation.
Conshohocken Physical Therapy(CPT) is a private practice delivering high quality, evidence-based care to improve their patients quality of life. They have been voted the Best Physical Therapy Practice in Montgomery County, PA, multiple times. Owner, Dr. Desirea D. Caucci, PT, DPT, has been named one of the top 3 Physical Therapists in the nation by Advance Magazine (2008) and has been honored as the national winner of the Dorland Health People Award for Physical Therapy (2010). They have also created a breakthrough iPad application for pain prevention - Motion Doctor. Their mission is to promote physical therapy on a grand scale and make a positive impact, both personally and therapeutically, on every person who enters their office. For more information please email bcaucci(at)conshypt(dot)com or visit http://www.ConshyPT.com.
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