Hayashida & Associates Physical Therapy: California Needs Your Help!

As a continuation of the last blog I want to discuss an important issue that is being heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee right now! Supporting this bill will help change the way the public receives health care services to the “new approach” (discussed last week) where the person with musculoskeletal pain can visit their physical therapist before seeing their primary care physician. This would allow for immediate treatment if it is appropriate, effectively decreasing the amount of time you are in pain. The physical therapist would refer you to a primary care physician if your physical therapist thinks it’s warranted. You get referred to a specialist for further testing only if necessary.

“SB 924 will allow consumers to be directly treated by physical therapists just as in many other states.”¹

“SB 924 will streamline health care delivery, increase consumer choice and reduce costs for consumers.”¹

“SB 924 will allow patients to go directly to physical therapist, avoid extra co-pays and if appropriate for physical therapist services, begin treatment immediately.”¹

“Currently, 36 states allow patients to directly access physical therapist treatment (17 with unlimited direct access and 19 with some restrictions) and they have been doing so safely for an average of 25 years. In 36 other states, Medicare pays for the direct treatment by physical therapists before a formal diagnosis is determined by a physician.”¹

THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN CALIFORNIA!

In California Medicare recipients are denied their equal right to direct access to the same physical therapy services afforded to patients in those 36 other states.

“Lastly, physical therapy education and training justifies clarification and recognition by the legislature that the profession is qualified to treat patients' impairments and movement dysfunctions without a formal diagnosis of a disease.”¹