Direct access doesn’t always mean patient’s have complete access to physical therapy. In states like Illinois, direct access means individuals have the right to go see a physical therapist for an evaluation without a doctor’s referral, but they must have a referral to get any treatment.  One person advocating for better direct access in Illinois is Patricia Naylor, PT, MS. She is the IPTA Direct Access Committee Chair and recently joined PT Talker to discuss the legislative challenges in pushing for greater access to physical therapy.

To build public awareness of the Illinois campaign, the IPTA has launched a website IllinoisAdapt.org. The site contains a number of ways you can get involved to help in the fight for greater access to physical therapy. To learn more about the legislative challenges in the process, listen to the full podcast now.