Frequently Asked Questions About Physical Therapy
Browse through the following to answer some of the questions you may have.
- Do I need a referral from my doctor?
- What should I wear?
- Will it hurt?
- How many appointments will I have?
- How often will I have to come?
- How long do appointments last?
- Will I have to do exercises at home?
- How do I know when I am done?
- What kind of payment do you accept?
- Do I pay at each visit?
- Do you accept insurance?
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Do I need a referral from my doctor?
You do not need a referral or a prescription from a doctor to have physical therapy treatment in Connecticut. Here (and in 41 other states) folks can go directly to a physical therapist for treatment, and insurance pays the same as they would if a doctor sent you to therapy. So if you have an ache, a pain, or would just like to move better, make an appointment for a physical therapy evaluation. We will develop a plan to get you feeling good again.
What should I wear?
It is helpful to your therapist if he or she can see and move your body freely. For example, bring or wear shorts if you have a knee injury, or a tank top or T-shirt if you have a sore shoulder. Loose-fitting clothing is best.
Will it hurt?
Physical therapy is not intended to cause pain. However, we are often treating body areas that are already sore, swollen and painful. Certain stages of rehabilitation can be painful for a small number of conditions. But for the most part therapy will make you feel better, not worse. Decreasing pain is one of the main goals of physical therapy!
How many appointments will I have?
The number of overall appointments varies depending on the condition being treated and the response to treatment. Your therapist will be able to give you an estimate after your evaluation of how long your course of therapy is likely to be.
How often will I have to come?
This will depend on the condition being treated. For example, joint replacement rehabilitation can be as much as three or four visits per week. On the other end of the spectrum, chronic back pain that has resolved to the maintenance and education stage may taper to once a week before discharge.
How long do appointments last?
Plan for about 45 minutes for your evaluation (the first visit), with an additional 10 minutes for paperwork and registration. Follow-up visits last 30-45 minutes each.
Will I have to do exercises at home?
It is very likely that you will be given a home exercise program during the course of your treatment. Full benefit from therapy almost always requires regular and consistent practice of new strength, stretching, balance and postural exercises, to name a few.
How do I know when I am done?
Your therapist, based on clinical experience, will decide when you have achieved the maximum benefit from therapy. At that point you will be discharged. If you are being treated in conjunction with a doctor, your treatment and discharge plans are always discussed by phone and in writing with your physician directly. Patients themselves always have the right to end treatment at any time.
What kind of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, credit card payments, and personal checks.
Do I pay at each visit?
Yes. Payment in full is required at each visit. If we participate with your insurance, your co-payment must be made at each visit.
Do you accept insurance?
Touchpoint currently participates with most plans for the following carriers: Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, HealthNet/OrthoNet, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Connecticare. If you don’t see your plan listed, please call 203.245.7766 to ask our office staff for an updated list. We are often in the process of joining new insurance networks
If we are not in your network, you may pay out-of-pocket for your physical therapy treatment at Touchpoint. If your plan provides out-of-network benefits for physical therapy, you should be able to submit your paid Touchpoint invoice to your insurance company for partial reimbursement. Please be sure to check with your insurance company to determine your benefits, or ask for our assistance to verify coverage.