Do I need a referral to go to Physical Therapy

1) Do I need to see my doctor first before I can go to physical therapy?


No!  In WV we have something called Direct Access.  That means you can access a PT without a doctor referral as long as your insurance doesn’t have a referral requirement.  Most insurances don’t require a doctors referral for you to come to physical therapy. In WV we have a lot of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, PEIA and none of these insurances require a referral from the doctor. Medicare doesn’t require a referral but the physical therapist does have to send a plan of careto your doctor after they have evaluated you. Medicaid products do require a referral. If you have questions about your particular insurance you can call us and we will verify it for you.  Phone #: 304 525 4445


2) Do you have to go where your doctor sends you for physical therapy?​

No! Yesterday one of my current patients, who I am seeing for her knee, told me about her shoulder surgery she previously had. She was discussing the therapy that she had at another facility and then I asked how she ended up there when I had seen her prior to the surgery? She told me the doctor who did her surgery told her to go to his physical therapy clinic. Since that surgery more than a year ago she was under the impression that she had to go to the doctors PT clinic because that is what he told her to do. I informed her that she may go to any PT clinic that she chooses.

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