Get More out of Your Physical Therapy
Without Paying More-Learn How!!!

It is 2012, the economy is improving
and people are getting jobs with or
without benefits. Those of us who
have medical insurance are seeing
a big hike in cost-sharing when we
use it.
We will talk here specifically
about the increased cost of physical
therapy benefits, cost-sharing and
how that may affect your health.
This article written by:
For employers to be able to
MICHAEL FAHMY, PT, OMPT
Certified Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapist
offer health insurance and make
President of OMPT Specialists, Inc.
it affordable for their employees,
they will have to change the type of
benefits and cost-sharing namely,
the deductible, co-insurance and co-pay.
If you have, for example, back pain and your physician
recommends physical therapy treatment, he or she may
recommend a physical therapy clinic for you to go to. After
verifying your insurance coverage (if they provide that service
to you before starting your physical therapy, like we do at OMPT
Specialists), you will be responsible to pay a deductible... Let's
say $1,000 or $500 before your insurance kicks in. After that
amount is satisfied, then you will be responsible to pay co-
insurance, perhaps 20 percent, 30 percent or higher depending
on your plan. That adds about $20 to $40 per visit on top of
any co-pay you might have. Remember, you may have to see
your physical therapist up to three times a week for four to eight
weeks.
Per the example above, these fees can get very expensive and
it depends on your medical status and your limitation or injury.
The question is: will the cost get more or less expensive in the
future?
It looks like the cost will increase from year to year. Not only
will the cost increase, but insurance companies are also trying to
limit the allowed number of visits with your physical therapist so
they can save more.
So, how can you make sure that you get treated for your neck,
back or knee pain and pay less for overall therapy? You can
follow these recommended steps:

0 N1 PT

SPECIALISTS

ORTHOPEDIC MANUAL PHYSICAL THERAPY

A higher fey& of therapy for proven results

1. You need to know as a patient that you can go anywhere
you would like for physical therapy as long as they accept
your insurance.

2. When you search for a clinic or if your doctor recommends
it to you or even your neighbor suggested a clinic to
you, ask to have a quick meeting with your therapist (at
OMPT Specialists, for instance, we offer free 30-minute
consultations with our physical therapists) or just go and
look at the clinic. Ask the physical therapist about his or
her experience in treating conditions like yours.

3. Ask if you will be doubled or tripled with other patients
during your appointment (OMPT Specialists offers one-
on-one therapy sessions with your physical therapist). If
you're responsible to pay all this money for your therapy,
then you must make sure you will get the best care.

4. During your therapy you need to see if it is giving you relief
or increasing your pain. (I personally do not believe in "no
pain, no gain." I believe in "No pain, lots of gain.")

5. Monitor your progress and improvement by yourself. Are
you able to move better? Is the pain less overall or has
there been no change at all with your functional activities
and level of pain? If you feel that you are just going there
to finish the amount of prescribed visits and see no
improvements whatsoever, you are wasting your money
and your time.

6. Ask your physical therapist about what is the long-term
plan after finishing the allowed visits. At OMPT Specialists,
we offer a long-term plan consisting of a step-down gym
program for $25 a month or for seniors to join a twice
weekly exercise class for as little as $4 per class.

As a patient, you must take more responsibility when it comes
to physical therapy treatment to have a better quality of life.
At the end, physical therapy is a great approach and helps to
improve functional activities and reduce pain if it is done right.
At our clinic, OMPT Specialists, we know that not all physical
therapy works and all therapists are not the same. To save
money you must pursue the best quality of care that is offered.
Remember, it is your money, it is your time and it is your choice.

For more information or to schedule an appointment call:
248.353.1234 or 248.743.1234

Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
29255 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 300 , Southfield, MI 48034
3435 Livernois Rd., Troy, MI 48083
www.OMPTspecialists.com

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