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At Physical Therapy Now, we believe healing should never be delayed by distance, traffic, or a busy schedule. That’s why we’ve integrated telehealth physical therapy into our services, so you can access expert care from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re managing pain, recovering from surgery, or following a long-term treatment plan, telehealth brings physical therapy to your screen without compromising quality.
Telehealth Physical Therapy uses secure video conferencing technology to connect you with a licensed physical therapist in real time. Just like an in-person session, your therapist: evaluates your condition, guides you through customized exercises, offers education on posture, movement, pain management, tracks your progress and adjusts your treatment plan. All you need is a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access.
You might be surprised by how much can be done remotely. Common conditions we treat through telehealth include: back and neck pain, shoulder, hip, and knee pain, post-operative recovery, balance and fall prevention, arthritis joint stiffness and general deconditioning or mobility issues.

For cases requiring hands-on treatment, we may use a hybrid model, starting with telehealth and transitioning to in-clinic care when appropriate. Studies show that virtual physical therapy can be just as effective as in-person visits for many conditions, especially when combined with regular follow-up and a clear home exercise plan. At Physical Therapy Now, we’re proud to offer this modern solution while maintaining the same personalized, high-quality care our patients know and trust.

¨If you or someone you know might need physical therapy, please call us at 305-570-1633, or if you are interested in opening a Physical Therapy Franchise. Email us franchise@physicaltherapynow.com or visit our website at https://physicaltherapynow.com/franchise/

As more states across the U.S. adopt direct access laws, allowing patients to see a physical therapist without a doctor’s referral, many Medicare beneficiaries are asking:
“Can I start physical therapy without a referral under Medicare?”

The answer is not quite. While state laws may allow direct access, the Medicare program has its own rules when it comes to outpatient therapy services. Direct access means you can visit a licensed physical therapist without a physician’s referral or prescription. Most states support this model, giving patients faster, more convenient access to care—especially for issues like back pain, joint stiffness, or post-surgical recovery. However, Medicare operates under a federal program, and its payment rules are separate from state licensure laws.
The Medicare program does not formally recognize direct access for outpatient physical, occupational, or speech therapy services. This means Medicare requires specific documentation from a physician or nonphysician practitioner (NPP) to reimburse therapy services, even if state laws allow direct access. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start therapy. If your state allows direct access, a Medicare beneficiary can be evaluated by a therapist without a referral.

Medicare doesn’t officially recognize direct access the way private insurance might, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start therapy without a referral. The key is making sure all necessary documentation and physician certification are in place to ensure coverage.
¨If you or someone you know might need physical therapy, please call us at 305-570-1633, or if you are interested in opening a Physical Therapy Franchise. Email us franchise@physicaltherapynow.com or visit our website at https://physicaltherapynow.com/franchise/

Pain is something most of us experience at some point in life. But not all pain is the same. Some types come on suddenly and go away quickly, while others linger for months or even years. Understanding the difference between acute and chronic pain is key to managing your health—and physical therapy can play a major role in treating both.

Acute pain is short-term pain that usually comes on suddenly and is directly related to a specific injury, illness, or event. It acts as a warning sign from your body that something is wrong. Common causes of acute pain include sprained ankle, post-surgical pain, back strain from lifting something heavy. Acute pain typically lasts a few days to a few weeks, depending on the cause. As the body heals, the pain gradually goes away.
Chronic pain lasts longer—usually 12 weeks or more, even after the original injury or condition has healed. It may start as acute pain but persist due to nerve involvement, inflammation, or other complex changes in the body’s pain signaling system. Chronic pain can interfere with sleep, mood, physical activity, and overall quality of life. Common causes of chronic pain include arthritis, fibromyalgia, long-term back or neck pain and nerve damage. Whether you’re dealing with a sudden injury or struggling with long-term pain, physical therapy offers a safe, drug-free, and highly effective solution. By targeting the source of your pain and teaching you how to move better, PT helps you recover faster, stay stronger, and feel more in control.

As healthcare reimbursement continues to decline and operational costs rise, many organizations are searching for ways to optimize billing and increase revenue per outpatient therapy visit. One question we’ve heard more frequently is: “Can a hospital bill HCPCS code G0463 every time a patient receives outpatient physical, occupational, or speech therapy?” To help clarify this issue, we’re breaking down what G0463 represents, when it can be billed, and why it does not apply to therapy-specific revenue codes. According to the 2025 HCPCS Level II coding manual, G0463 is defined as: “Hospital outpatient clinic visit for assessment and management of a patient.” This code is used by hospitals to report clinic visits where evaluation, treatment planning, and coordination of care occur in a hospital outpatient setting.

Hospitals are allowed to bill G0463 for outpatient clinic visits that involve assessment and management services. These are typically medical or primary care-related appointments, not therapy services. To be valid, G0463 must be paired with a supporting revenue code that aligns with clinic or evaluation-type services. Hospitals should not bill G0463 when a patient attends an outpatient therapy session for physical, occupational, or speech therapy. The revenue codes associated with therapy services (042x, 043x, 044x) are not aligned with the clinic-based evaluation and management services required for billing G0463. Trying to bill G0463 in this context could lead to denials, compliance issues, or audit risk. As hospitals and therapy clinics navigate financial pressures, it’s important to optimize billing within the rules. While G0463 can be a valid code for hospital-based outpatient clinic visits, it does not apply to therapy services billed under the appropriate therapy revenue codes.

Un enfoque culturalmente sensible para el bienestar y la independencia. En nuestras comunidades latinas, los adultos mayores son pilares fundamentales de nuestras familias. Son abuelos, madres, padres, y sabios consejeros. Y como tal, merecen una vida activa, saludable y digna.

Pero con los años, es común experimentar dolor, rigidez, caídas, o pérdida de movilidad. La buena noticia es que la terapia física puede ayudar a prevenir estos problemas y mejorar la calidad de vida, todo sin necesidad de medicamentos invasivos o cirugías costosas.

En Physical Therapy Now, entendemos las necesidades físicas, emocionales y culturales de nuestros adultos mayores latinos. Aquí te contamos cómo la terapia física puede marcar una gran diferencia. La terapia física no es solo para atletas o personas que han tenido una cirugía. Para los adultos mayores, es una herramienta poderosa que mejora el equilibrio y previene caídas, fortalece músculos débiles y mejora la movilidad, reduce el dolor crónico, como el de rodillas, espalda o artritis, ayuda a recuperar la independencia para caminar, cocinar o cuidar a los nietos y promueve la salud mental y emocional al mantenerse activo y conectado.
En Physical Therapy Now, muchos de nuestros terapeutas y personal hablan español y entienden nuestra cultura. Sabemos que no se trata solo del cuerpo,también tratamos con respeto, calidez y paciencia. Nos tomamos el tiempo para explicar, escuchar y apoyar en cada paso del proceso. Cuando nuestros pacientes se sienten como en casa, los resultados son mejores. Aquí no solo sanamos cuerpos, tambien fortalecemos espíritus.

Si usted o alguien que conoce necesita terapia física, por favor llámenos al 305-570-1633.
Si está interesado en abrir una franquicia de Physical Therapy Now, envíenos un correo a franchise@physicaltherapynow.com o visite nuestro sitio web en https://physicaltherapynow.com/franchise/

One of the most common questions we hear at Physical Therapy Now is:
“Do I need a referral from my doctor to start physical therapy?”

The answer depends on where you live and your insurance plan—but in many cases, the answer is: NO, you don’t!
Thanks to something called Direct Access, patients in many states can go straight to a licensed physical therapist without needing a physician’s referral. Direct Access means you have the legal right to seek evaluation and treatment from a physical therapist without a referral from a doctor or specialist. It’s designed to give patients quicker access to care—especially important when you’re in pain or recovering from an injury. As of now, all 50 U.S. states allow some form of Direct Access, although the rules vary slightly from state to state. Skipping the referral process can save you time (no waiting for another doctor’s appointment), start your recovery sooner and reduce out-of-pocket expenses,especially if a doctor visit would cost you extra. It puts you in control of your health and recovery without unnecessary delays.

Even though Direct Access is allowed in many cases, your insurance plan might still require a referral or prescription to approve coverage. Here’s when you might need one: If your insurance mandates a referral for reimbursement, if you’re covered by Medicare, which often requires documentation from your physician and if your state has restrictions. You don’t always need a doctor’s referral to start physical therapy—and that’s great news if you’re ready to feel better, move better, and get back to doing what you love. Thanks to Direct Access, many patients can begin treatment right away.

What you need to know before starting treatment. If you’re considering physical therapy to recover from an injury, manage chronic pain, or improve mobility, you might be wondering: “Is physical therapy covered by my insurance?” The good news is that in most cases, yes. Most major health insurance plans—including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers like Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield—do cover physical therapy services. Coverage usually depends on:
Medical necessity

A referral or prescription from your doctor

Your plan’s deductible and copayments

Depending on your insurance plan and state laws: Some plans require a referral from your primary care doctor or a specialist. Others allow direct access, meaning you can schedule an evaluation with a physical therapist without a referral. In the clinic, the front desk person always verifies your coverage and referral requirements before your first visit—so there are no surprises. If you don’t have insurance, that doesn’t mean you can’t get care. Here at Physical Therapy Now, we offer: Affordable self-pay rates, discounted therapy packages, flexible payment plans. Your health shouldn’t have to wait because of coverage issues. Our goal is to make your experience easy, affordable, and stress-free. If you’ve been putting off therapy because of insurance questions, we’re here to help.
Call your nearest Physical Therapy Now clinic and we’ll walk you through your benefits, coverage, and options—so you can start your recovery journey today.

As physical therapy evolves, many patients and providers alike wonder: Can physical therapists perform diagnostic services, particularly for Medicare patients? The short answer is yes — under specific conditions. Physical therapists can perform certain diagnostic tests on Medicare patients, but only if they are board certified in clinical electrophysiology by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). Additionally, the service must be permitted under the physical therapist’s state law.
Medicare (CMS) recognizes board-certified PTs to provide the following tests:
1. Electromyography (EMG)
This test measures muscle response or electrical activity in response to nerve stimulation of the muscle.
2. Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV)
Used to assess how fast electrical signals move through your peripheral nerves.
3. Sensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs)
Tests how the brain responds to sensory input like sight, sound, or touch — often used to evaluate neurological disorders.
Diagnostic testing like EMGs, NCVs, and SEPs can play a crucial role in identifying the source of pain or dysfunction — helping physical therapists create more targeted treatment plans. When performed by a board-certified clinical electrophysiology specialist, these services are recognized and reimbursable under Medicare, as long as your state law allows it. Physical therapists who are board certified in clinical electrophysiology have a unique opportunity to expand their scope of services by offering diagnostic testing such as EMGs, NCVs, and SEPs — with full recognition and reimbursement from Medicare, provided state laws permit it. These services not only support more precise treatment planning but also reinforce the role of physical therapists as key contributors in the diagnostic process.

Understanding how often you can submit claims for outpatient therapy services depends largely on the classification of your practice or organization. This blog explores the guidelines for submitting claims to both Medicare and commercial insurance carriers and clarifies which therapy settings are eligible for daily submissions versus monthly submissions.

Outpatient therapy services can be provided in various settings, including private practices (therapist or physician-owned), Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (ORFs), Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CORFs), Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Home Health Agencies (HHAs), and hospital outpatient departments. However, not all these settings follow the same billing rules.

For Medicare claims, settings that submit on a CMS-1500 claim form—like private practices and certain hospital therapy departments—can submit claims daily to their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). In contrast, settings that use the UB-04 claim form—like ORFs, CORFs, SNFs, HHAs, and most hospital outpatient departments—must submit claims monthly or after the conclusion of services within a given month. When billing commercial insurance carriers, the rules are similar. Organizations using the 1500-claim form (such as private practices and non-provider-based hospital departments) can generally submit claims daily. However, those submitting via UB-04 (such as SNFs, HHAs, and standard hospital outpatient departments) must follow monthly submission protocols.

When a therapist—whether a full-time employee or a traveling clinician—leaves a practice, it’s not uncommon to discover unfinished documentation, such as a missing discharge report. One of the most frequently asked questions in this scenario is whether another therapist who never treated the patient can write the discharge report based solely on the existing notes in the medical record. Technically, the answer is yes—another licensed therapist could write the discharge summary. However, the real question is: should they?

Any therapist who signs their name and credentials on a discharge report becomes part of that patient’s case, regardless of whether they ever interacted with the patient directly. This can present several concerns. If an insurance company requests the records, or if the patient has an active workers’ compensation claim, pending lawsuit, or any other legal matter related to their care, the therapist who authored and signed that report could be pulled into the case. Without firsthand knowledge of the patient’s condition, progress, and outcomes, the substitute therapist may be at a disadvantage in justifying the clinical decisions or summarizing the treatment provided. While it’s permissible for a different therapist to write the discharge report based on existing documentation, it’s important to weigh the potential risks. Ideally, the therapist who evaluated and treated the patient should complete the discharge report. If that’s not possible, practices should implement a clear policy and ensure thorough internal documentation to protect both clinicians and the integrity of patient care.

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