In other words, you don't need a doctor's referral to visit a physical therapist for treatment. While your doctor may recommend seeing a physical therapist for chronic pain or rehabilitation, Direct Access laws allow you to visit a PT clinic without first seeing a doctor.
These laws took effect on January 1, 2015, and grant patients in every U.S. state (plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands) "direct access" to physical therapy care. Now, you can visit an Alliance clinic in your area and start your recovery journey as soon as possible.
Direct Access Laws by State
Direct Access laws vary from state to state, with some states requiring you to obtain a referral for certain injuries and conditions. Here’s a breakdown of each state’s laws:
- Alabama — Access to limited physical therapy services without a referral
- Alaska — Unrestricted access
- Arizona — Unrestricted access
- Arkansas — Direct access with some provisions
- California — Direct access with some provisions
- Colorado — Unrestricted access
- Connecticut — Direct access with some provisions
- Delaware — Direct access with some provisions
- District of Columbia — Direct access with some provisions
- Florida — Direct access with some provisions
- Georgia — Direct access with some provisions
- Hawaii — Unrestricted access
- Idaho — Unrestricted access
- Illinois — Direct access with some provisions
- Indiana — Direct access with some provisions
- Iowa — Unrestricted access
- Kansas — Direct access with some provisions
- Kentucky — Unrestricted access
- Louisiana — Direct access with some provisions
- Maine — Direct access with some provisions
- Maryland — Unrestricted access
- Massachusetts — Direct access with some provisions
- Minnesota — Direct access with some provisions
- Mississippi — Access to limited physical therapy services without a referral
- Missouri — Access to limited physical therapy services without a referral
- Montana — Direct access with some provisions
- Nebraska — Unrestricted access
- Nevada — Unrestricted access
- New Hampshire — Direct access with some provisions
- New Jersey — Direct access with some provisions
- New Mexico — Direct access with some provisions
- New York — Direct access with some provisions
- North Carolina — Unrestricted access
- North Dakota — Unrestricted access
- Ohio — Direct access with some provisions
- Oklahoma — Direct access with some provisions
- Oregon — Unrestricted access
- Pennsylvania — Direct access with some provisions
- Rhode Island — Direct access with some provisions
- South Carolina – Direct access with some provisions
- South Dakota — Unrestricted access
- Tennessee – Direct access with some provisions
- Texas — Access to limited physical therapy services without a referral
- Utah — Unrestricted access
- Vermont — Unrestricted access
- Virginia — Direct access with some provisions
- Washington — Direct access with some provisions
- West Virginia — Unrestricted access
- Wisconsin — Direct access with some provisions
- Wyoming — Access to limited physical therapy services without a referral
Limits and provisions vary from state to state. You can contact an Alliance physical therapy clinic in your city to learn more about your state’s Direct Access laws.
The Benefits of Direct Access
There are a few key benefits to Direct Access laws:
- One less barrier to treatment — Waiting for a referral means you have to withstand pain and live with a limited range of motion in the interim. Direct access allows you to get treated for your condition as soon as a physical therapy clinic can take you.
- Lower health costs — Visiting a physician before your physical therapy appointment costs money. You’ll be spared the co-pay by visiting a physical therapist directly, without needing a doctor to refer you.
- Helps you avoid prescription drugs — Doctors may recommend or prescribe pain medication before referring you to a physical therapy clinic. However, pain medications often carry unwanted side effects, including dependency.
To learn more about your state’s Direct Access laws or to schedule an appointment at one of our clinics, contact an Alliance clinic near you today.