Do I Need a Referral From My Doctor to Start Physical Therapy?
No! You do not need a referral for physical therapy.
This saves time waiting to see your doctor, saves you money not having to pay a copay for your doctor, and gets you started on the path to recovery. We are trained to begin treatment without needing imaging, and recognize when a patient needs to be referred to their doctor for X-rays or MRI.
In California, you may see your physical therapist 12 times within 45 days. After that you need a medical diagnosis from an MD, DO, or DPM. This allows for most people to recover from their injury without needing to see a doctor.
Most insurances will cover patients for direct access. If they do still require a referral, you can get started with physical therapy while you wait to see your doctor.
