Physical Therapy | Physicaltherapynow.com

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/

Physical Therapy Now was founded in 2015 by visionary entrepreneur Andy Zapata in Miami, Florida, born from a simple yet powerful mission: to restore movement, function, and hope for people of all walks of life. As a seasoned healthcare executive and advocate for underserved communities, Andy understood the profound impact that quality rehabilitative care can have—not just on individuals, but on families and communities as a whole.

The concept for Physical Therapy Now was developed through hands-on experience. Andy opened and operated five highly successful clinics across South Florida, each one serving as a testament to a model that combined evidence-based care with personalized attention, operational excellence, and culturally competent service. These clinics quickly earned a reputation for putting patients first, reducing pain, improving quality of life, and helping individuals regain their independence with dignity and compassion.

Recognizing the growing demand for accessible, high-quality physical therapy services—and driven by the success of these initial locations—Andy decided to expand the impact of his proven model through franchising. Thus, in the same year of its founding, Physical Therapy Now began its journey as a franchise company, empowering other entrepreneurs and healthcare professionals to bring the same level of care to their own communities.

Since its inception as a franchise, Physical Therapy Now has grown to include more than 50 locations across three states, including Florida and Texas. This growth has been fueled not just by market demand, but by a deeply rooted commitment to operational support, clinical excellence, and a strong community ethos. Franchise owners are supported with comprehensive training, marketing strategies, billing and compliance systems, and ongoing mentorship to ensure they succeed—not only as business owners but as healthcare leaders.

Today, Physical Therapy Now stands as a symbol of resilience, innovation, and accessibility in rehabilitative care. Each clinic operates with a consistent mission: to provide life-changing services to patients while building meaningful relationships within the communities they serve. Whether helping someone recover from surgery, manage chronic pain, or improve mobility after an accident, every therapist and support team member is driven by a common purpose: to help people live healthier, more active lives.

As Physical Therapy Now continues to grow, the vision remains clear—to become the most trusted name in physical rehabilitation across the United States, delivering exceptional care while uplifting the communities that need it most. Guided by its core values—Patients First, Teamwork with Heart, and Now Matters—the company is more than a network of clinics. It is a movement, redefining what it means to care in the modern age.

¨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.

Understanding Two Powerful Paths to Pain Relief and Healing

When you’re dealing with back pain, neck stiffness, or recovering from an injury, you might wonder:
Should I see a physical therapist or a chiropractor? The good news is, both physical therapy and chiropractic care are valuable, non-surgical options for addressing pain, restoring function, and improving your quality of life. But they take different approaches — and knowing the difference can help you choose the care that’s right for you. Physical therapy (PT) focuses on helping patients restore movement, strength, balance, and function after injury, illness, or surgery. PTs use scientifically based techniques to treat the underlying cause of pain or dysfunction. Physical therapy is often used after surgeries, sports injuries, strokes, or chronic conditions like arthritis. It’s a progressive, functional approach focused on helping you get back to your normal activities — or better than before.

Chiropractic care is a healthcare discipline that focuses on diagnosing and treating mechanical disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system, especially misalignments (called subluxations). Chiropractors aim to restore proper spinal alignment, improve nerve function, and relieve pain — especially back and neck pain, headaches, and joint discomfort. Care often involves regular adjustments to maintain alignment over time. Some clinics even offer collaborative care, where PTs and chiropractors work together to get you faster results.
Both professions are dedicated to helping you live pain-free — just through different approaches.

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.

In today’s fast-moving world, convenience and access to healthcare are more important than ever. At Physical Therapy Now, we’re proud to be at the forefront of innovation in patient care—including the integration of telehealth physical therapy across our franchise locations nationwide.

Why Telehealth in Physical Therapy?
Telehealth isn’t just a trend—it’s a transformative tool that breaks down barriers to care. Whether a patient is managing a chronic condition, recovering from surgery, or looking for mobility solutions, virtual physical therapy offers safe, effective, and flexible care from the comfort of home.

Here’s how we’re making it work for our patients and franchisees:

1. Personalized Virtual Evaluations
Our telehealth platform allows licensed physical therapists to perform comprehensive initial evaluations via secure video sessions. Using guided assessments and patient-reported symptoms, we create customized care plans that mirror the precision of in-person visits.

2. Home-Based Exercise Programs (HEPs) with Real-Time Coaching
Through live telehealth sessions, our PTs guide patients through their home exercise programs, providing real-time corrections, encouragement, and education to ensure proper form and progress. These sessions increase accountability and drive better outcomes.

3. Post-Operative Check-Ins & Pain Management
Post-op recovery can be stressful. We offer virtual follow-ups to monitor healing, adjust rehab plans, and provide support—especially valuable for patients with limited mobility or transportation challenges.

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.

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