FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What is Physical Therapy?

A: Physical therapy is an area of healthcare that promotes healing and well being through a combination of activity, manual techniques, and modalities. Physical therapists hold graduate degrees from accredited programs, where they are educated extensively in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pathology, kinesiology, and human function.

Q. Will my insurance cover my physical therapy treatments?

A: H/S Therapy Associates if a preferred provider for numerous insurance plans, including but not limited to: Aetna PPO, Personal Choice, Medicare, Pennsylvania Blue Shield, TriCare, Intergroup, First Health, and Beech Street. When setting up your first appointment with us, you will be asked for information regarding your insurance coverage. It is our policy to contact your insurance company prior to your first visit to question them regarding your coverage for outpatient physical therapy services. In the event your insurance company tells us that your care would not be covered, we will attempt to contact you prior to your scheduled visit to make you aware of this. Otherwise, you will be informed of your insurance coverage at the time of your first visit. We encourage all of our patients to contact their insurance companies as well to verify insurance coverage.

Q. Why do I need a new prescription?

A: Although Direct Access to Physical Therapy is a reality in Pennsylvania, many insurance companies still require a physician letter of medical necessity (most common form is a prescription) in order for your services to be covered. Direct Access does allow you to receive physical therapy services without a physician prescription for a period of 30 days if insurance coverage is not an issue for you. After this initial 30 day period, the licensing laws of the State of Pennsylvania mandate that a physician prescription is required.

Q. Do I pay for my visit(s) upfront or do you bill me?

A: If your insurance plan includes a set co-pay amount; you will be expected to make payment at the time of service. If your plan involves a co-insurance portion (i.e., 90/10 or 80/20 plans), you will receive a bill after your insurance company has made payment.

Q. How many times do I have to come to therapy?

A: Your physical therapist will discuss a treatment plan with you during your first visit. Most treatment plans involve a frequency of 2 to 3 visits per week unless your physician has requested differently.

Q. I have been coming to therapy for one problem and now have another. What do I need to do to receive care for my new problem?

A: Direct Access allows you to be seen for your new problem; however we can not guarantee that your insurance company will pay for direct access services. We recommend that you contact your insurance company to question coverage for same. If you do not want to be seen under Direct Access, you will need to consult with your physician regarding a prescription for physical therapy care for your new problem.

Q. Why are you asking me for my medical insurance information if I have already given you my automobile/worker's compensation insurance information?

A: In the event your automobile/worker's compensation insurance benefits are exhausted we will forward any unpaid claims to your medical insurance company. Some medical insurance companies require that care is authorized prior to being provided even if it is an automobile/worker's compensation case. If a required authorization is not in place, in the event the bills need to be forwarded to your medical insurance carrier, your claims will not be paid.

Q. Why are you asking me what my automobile insurance benefit limit is?

A: In the event you exhaust your automobile insurance benefits, your claims will be forwarded to your medical insurance carrier. This may result in you having to pay for all or a portion of your charges. We recommend that all patients using automobile insurance regularly check with his/her claims adjuster to question what balance remains in order to avoid any "surprise bills." Although H/S Therapy is a preferred provider for many insurance companies we are not providers of all. We feel it is best that you are aware of any insurance restrictions prior to initiating a course of care.