How Much Does Physical Therapy Cost?
Posted January 2, 2021
How Much Does Physical Therapy Cost?
Any way you look at it, healthcare costs are no trivial matter. And when you factor in high deductibles and pricey specialist visits, the numbers only go up. In today’s world, it’s necessary to examine the cost of each step of your healthcare in your treatment plan.
The first question we get from most of our patients is, “How much does physical therapy cost?”
Of course, the frustrating answer for that question is – it depends. Due to the potential variation in treatment courses and differences in insurance plans, the cost of physical therapy can vary greatly from one person to another.
Though the exact cost will vary based on individual needs, the baseline total cost for a full course of physical therapy, or 10 visits, is approximately $1,000 or $100 per visit.
That cost will likely be mitigated by your insurance, depending on your plan, so your total cost may be cheaper.
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Is the Cost of Physical Therapy Worth It?
Physical therapy is a cost-effective treatment designed to get you back on your feet quickly and with lasting results. Not only do most insurance providers cover physical therapy, but it has also been proven to reduce medical costs by diminishing the need for unnecessary medication, imaging scans, or surgeries.
Here’s how the cost of physical therapy stacks up against other means of frequently prescribed interventions:
This high-level breakdown helps shed some light on the gravity of healthcare costs, but there are other factors to consider.
The Impact of Physical Therapy on Total Healthcare Costs
If you’re in pain, your first instinct is likely to pay a visit to your primary care physician, who may then refer you to an orthopedic specialist, who will write you a prescription for physical therapy. In fact, a 2017 Merritt Hawkins study showed that the average wait time to see a physician is 24 days, up 30% from 2014.
That process alone can set you back a few insurance co-pays, not to mention a couple of weeks. Heading directly to your physical therapist saves money – the right physical therapy within 14 days of the onset of pain minimizes the average total cost of care by 50%.
Low back pain patients who receive physical therapy immediately after the pain begins and adhere to their treatment plan spend $3,000 a year in associated healthcare costs. Those who delay receiving physical therapy and do not adhere to their treatment plan spend $6,000 per year on all kinds of healthcare.
Lastly, a 2015 Health Services Research study found that the average cost of care was shown to be $4,793 more if a patient had an MRI first vs. seeing a physical therapist first. The study also shows the increased use of other services like additional diagnostic imaging and medication when the MRI is done prior to physical therapy.
A recently published study in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that the patients who were sent to a physical therapy consult were 35% less likely to be prescribed opioids, even if they didn’t keep up with physical therapy after the initial evaluation.
If you need more information about the cost of physical therapy or would like to schedule a physical therapy appointment, simply use the map below to find the location closest to you!
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