FAQs
Q: Why Physical Therapy?
A: Physical therapists are experts in movement, qualified to examine patients and develop treatment plans to improve mobility, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent injury. Treatment may include manual therapy techniques, various exercise strategies and patient education.
We’re lifelong learners. As part of requirements for licensure, we are required to earn continuing education credits by taking additional physical therapy coursework annually, throughout their career.
Q: Do I need a prescription for physical therapy?
A: Seattle allows direct access to physical therapy services or “self-referral”. This allows you to be evaluated and treated by a licensed physical therapist without first seeing a physician for a prescription. Direct access saves you time and money, expediting your treatment, relief, and recovery. As of January 1, 2015 all 50 states have a version of “direct access”. If you need care beyond 12 visits (or 45 days, whichever comes first), then you will need a prescription. We have a vast network of medical practitioners and are happy to provide guidance should this occur.
Q: Do you take health insurance?
A: We accept any major plan with out-of-network benefits. We are in-network with Blue Shield of Seattle, some Blue Cross/Blue Shield out-of-state plans and Medicare. But don’t worry! Keep reading to understand what this means and why we’ve chosen to be out-of-network.
Q: What’s my co-pay going to be? How much is the treatment going to cost?
A: Because coverage under each plan varies significantly, we will contact your insurance company to determine the benefits that your plan offers before your first session at Therapydia Seattle. We will then estimate your payment responsibility to the best of our ability* to ensure total transparency.
*Your insurance company usually refers to this kind of payment as “co-insurance” — your share of the costs of a covered out-of-network service, generally given as a percentage of the amount paid to the provider. For example, they might cover 70% and you’ll have to pay the remaining 30%. Keep in mind, your payment is also affected by whether you’ve met your annual deductible as well as the amount your insurance company “allows” for the services we bill. Which leads us to…
Q: What should I expect on my first visit?
A: During your first visit, also called an initial evaluation, a physical therapist will conduct a whole-body movement assessment that will include tests of strength, flexibility, and an observation of movements that you complete on a daily basis. Based on the findings and keeping your goals in mind, the therapist will identify the source of your dysfunction or pain and design an individualized plan of care for symptom relief and to address the origin of your concerns. While the majority of your initial evaluation will be spent collecting information and assessing your current physical presentation, your therapist will provide information and one to two exercises to get you started on your path to wellness.
What to bring to your initial evaluation:
• Patient Intake Forms can be completed prior to your appointment (or come 15 minutes early to your appointment)
• Insurance referral (if needed per your insurance policy) – please call your primary care physician to have an insurance referral faxed to our facility.
• Photo ID, Health Insurance Card, and Co-Payment (if applicable)
• Comfortable clothes and athletic shoes (and any inserts if applicable)