Direct Access
Get treated sooner and script free and recover quickerScript Free (Direct Access) is a law that allows patients to see a licensed physical therapist directly for evaluation and treatment of pain and other movement-related issues without supervision, orders, or prescriptions from other healthcare providers in the state of New Jersey.
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, Since the law took effect in 2003, New Jersey has authorized physical therapists to treat patients without a referral for 30 days. As a patient, you can receive treatment sooner without waiting to book an appointment with your physical therapist, which often involves weeks of waiting for medical and insurance approvals.
Seeing a physical therapist first can save time and money by allowing patients to receive treatment for an injury sooner. Early results from a recent joint study by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) demonstrated that it could be beneficial to see a physical therapist first since individuals can have faster access to treatment, reduced pain, and decreased out-of-pocket expenses.
Our specialists are doctors of physical therapy and can provide comprehensive evaluation, examination, and treatment to patients who visit our clinic. We can help you on your journey to getting better sooner.
Benefits of Script Free (Direct Access)
Clinical studies also support physical therapists’ abilities to accurately diagnose musculoskeletal problems as well as systemic illness based on a patient’s clinical presentation and past medical history. Some of these benefits include:
By eliminating the need for a referral, individuals can make an appointment with a physical therapist right away and script-free.
Without the need for multiple appointments with primary care physicians or specialists, patients can save both time and money.
With Direct Access patients can choose the physical therapist that best meets their needs, preferences, and goals. This sense of autonomy can lead to increased satisfaction and engagement in the treatment process, which can contribute to better outcomes.
Statistically, studies show clinically meaningful findings of a considerable increase in satisfaction and better outcomes at discharge among patients who received physical therapy via Direct Access as opposed to prescribed non-physical therapy appointments.
Direct Access enables individuals to promptly access physical therapy services, speeding up evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. With quicker access to care and timely intervention for musculoskeletal issues or injuries, patients recover faster and prevent future recurrences. Furthermore, this process empowers patients to take a proactive role in their healthcare by directly engaging with a physical therapist who can offer personalized assessments, exercises, and rehabilitation strategies tailored to their specific needs.
Direct Access patients can choose the physical therapist that best meets their needs, preferences, and goals. This sense of autonomy can increase satisfaction and engagement in the treatment process, contributing to better outcomes.
With Direct Access, patients can establish a trusting relationship with their physical therapist right from the start of their treatment journey. This promotes better communication, understanding, and collaboration between patients and their physical therapists. As a result, their physical therapist can develop a tailored treatment plan that addresses the patient’s unique needs and goals, leading to more effective and efficient care.
Additionally, Medicare beneficiaries can visit a physical therapist directly script-free and without a referral or visit to a physician. The care plan developed by the physical therapists must be certified by a physician or nonphysician practitioner (NPP) within 30 days of the initial therapy visit.
As physical therapists, we are trained in movement-related injuries, so we can get to the root cause of your pain and design an individualized plan of care to address it. We are clinically trained to recognize red flags that may require care outside the scope of physical therapy. At that point, we will refer you to a physician or other healthcare specialist that can further assist you with a more in-depth treatment plan.
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