Answer: No, Louisiana is a Direct Access state. This means that we are able to treat you without a physician’s referral for 30 days. If you fail to make progress during this time, we will refer you to a physician for further evaluation. If you do make objective progress under our care within the first 30 days, we are able to continue to treat you as needed.
Answer: Make sure you bring your physical therapy referral (if you are referred by doctor), a valid ID, and your payment information. If your insurance is covering the cost of physical therapy, bring your insurance card. If you are covered by Workers' Compensation, make sure to have your claim number and your case manager's contact information. If you are covered by auto insurance or an attorney lien, make sure you bring this information. You will also need a list of your medicines.
Answer: You should wear loose fitting clothing so you can expose the area that we will be evaluating and treating. For example, if you have a knee problem, it is best to wear shorts. For a shoulder problem, a tank top is a good choice, and for low back problems, wear a loose fitting shirt and pants, again so we can perform a thorough examination.
Answer: Treatment sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes per visit.
Answer: Monday thru Thursday 7:30am-5:00pm and Friday 7:30am-12noon. We are closed between 12:00pm-1:30pm for lunch, but we can be reached by phone during this time.
Answer: You may need one visit, or you may need months of care. It depends on your diagnosis, the severity of your impairments, your past medical history, etc. You will be re-evaluated on a monthly basis and when you see your doctor, we will provide you with a progress report with our recommendations.
Answer: This will depend on your situation. Typically, your insurance company will cover the majority of your expenses, and you may be responsible for the remaining balance. Each insurance policy is different; therefore, we will gladly check insurance benefits for you. We will explain your policy’s benefits to you. Please note that co-payments, co-deductibles, and out of pocket expenses are out of our control and are expected to be collected at the time of service. Please note that ARSM does offer some options that may assist you in the payment of these expenses. Please inquire if you would like more information.
Out of pockets (input: www.healthcae.gov/glossary/out-of-pocket-costs
We accept most private insurances and Medicare. We do not accept Medicaid at this time.
Billing for physical therapy services is similar to what happens at your doctor's office. When you are seen for treatment, the following occurs:
The physical therapist bills your insurance company, Workers' Comp, and charges you based on Common Procedure Terminology (CPT) codes. Those codes are transferred to a billing format that is either mailed or electronically communicated to the payer. The payer processes this information and makes payments according to an agreed upon fee schedule. An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is generated and sent to the patient and the physical therapy clinic with a check for payment and a balance due by the patient. The patient is expected to make the payment on the balance if any.
It is important to understand that there are many small steps (beyond the outline provided above) within the process. Exceptions are common to the above example as well. At any time along the way, information may be missing, miscommunicated, or misunderstood. This can delay the payment process. While it is common for the payment process to be completed in 60 days or less, it is not uncommon for the physical therapy clinic to receive payment as long as six months after the treatment date.
Answer: Currently we are unaware of any insurance companies covering the cost of dry needling. It is an out of pocket expense for our patients at this time. Please inquire in person for pricing and further explanation.
We provide Home Health Services under a contract agreement with a few local home health agencies. If you would like for us to be involved in your home health, please contact our office prior to your procedure or surgery for more information.
