Currently, Indiana patients wanting to seek physical therapy are required to obtain a prescription or referral from a physician. Beginning July 1, 2013 individuals in Indiana can seek direct access to a physical therapist without a referral. One of the individuals involved with making this change a reality, President of the Indiana chapter of the APTA, Shane Sommers PT, MS, OCS, CSCS recently joined PT Talker to share details about the direct access legislation.
Indiana is the last state to allow patient’s direct access to physical therapy without a referral. Direct access allows patients quicker access to care and should help reduce costs. Sommers sees the future of physical therapy to be more outcome focused and eventually moving more to a model where physical therapists are paid for outcomes instead of per visit.
Listen to the full podcast to learn more about direct access efforts and the future outlook for physical therapy.