Insurance & Direct Access

Insurance We Accept

We accept all major insurances, including those shown here. For a fully updated list, please call our Cherry Hill office at 856-424-0993 or our Burlington office at 609-880-0880.

• Aetna (all products)
• Coventry
• Medicare
• MultiPlan
• UnitedHealthcare (all products)
• Amerihealth (all products)
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (all products)
• Medicare Railroad
• Qualcare
• Workers Compensation
• Cigna (all products)
• Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Motor Vehicle
• Tricare

What Is Direct Access?

We’re often asked whether you can come see us directly, without first being seen by a physician. In New Jersey, you can: direct access to physical therapy has been state law since 2003, and it remains a common topic of discussion in PT schools, among other healthcare professionals, and among patients like you.

Direct Access in physical therapy means that you can go directly to a PT for evaluation and treatment of pain and other movement-related issues.* Yes, by New Jersey State law you may visit a licensed physical therapist without supervision, orders, or prescriptions from other health care providers.

So what’s in it for you? Why deviate from the traditional model where you are referred to physical therapy by a physician or other specialist?

Saves Money

Three things are certain in this world: death, taxes, and rising (insurance) co-pays and deductibles. In most instances of musculoskeletal pain, you’ll leave a physician’s office with a prescription for pain-relieving drugs and a script for physical therapy. Going through a trial of PT first saves you some time and co-pays.

Systems Review

Physicians perform a systems review to identify “red flag” situations that warrant immediate attention. Doctors of Physical Therapy are also trained and qualified to do the same and are specifically taught how to find the root of movement-related problems. Treating mechanical (movement-related) problems requires mechanical solutions, and most physicians don’t have the time or training to get into the foundational movement impairments.

Time

Rest is good, up to a point. If medicine and a few days of rest are not helping your condition, the last thing you need is more medication with more rest. Rest does not identify and address the factors that cause pain or poor movement. Seeing a PT sooner rather than later may substantially impact the extent to which you reach full recovery — for example, addressing a painful disc herniation or lateral ankle sprain before the mind and body begin to compensate and ingrain dysfunctional movement.

Independence

A vast body of evidence from virtually every medical discipline shows that chronic pain is a major dilemma. The more someone adopts a fear-avoidance mindset and depends on health care providers, the poorer the outcome. PT is a conservative, patient-empowering, proactive means of addressing the root of movement-related problems.

No, we don’t fix every painful condition for every person. But doing all that we can to set you up for success, and building on that a little at a time, often goes a long way. Here at Specialized Physical Therapy, our licensed therapists have made the commitment to providing the highest quality care possible. We have spent endless hours studying and reviewing research, going to conferences, and looking for answers to your questions. We are confident in our skills and abilities and believe we are more than capable of taking on the responsibility of seeing you direct access. We also work closely with your physician to ensure optimal communication and effective delivery of care.

New Jersey Direct Access Provisions / State Law

The physical therapist shall refer a patient to a health care professional licensed in New Jersey for the following reasons:

If the PT has reason to believe that services outside of physical therapy are needed, or if the patient has failed to show reasonable progress within 30 days of initial treatment. At 30 days from initial evaluation, the PT shall inform the patient’s licensed health care provider regarding the patient’s plan of care. If one does not exist, the PT shall recommend the patient consult with a licensed health care provider.

*Some insurance plans may still require you to consult a physician first, in order to be reimbursed for the services, so please check with your insurance provider as plans differ.