Payment Information
and FAQs
How My Practice Works
My practice operates on a self-pay plan only. I choose to operate this way because I will not be able to provide the high level of care and individualized treatment I do at rates insurance companies are willing to pay. This allows the patient to spend the entire session with me which means that you heal faster and require fewer visits.
The benefits of this practice include:
1-on-1 Time
Complete 1-on-1 hands on time with me. Insurance makes it difficult for Physical Therapists to see patients 1-on-1 due to its low reimbursement rate especially when it comes to manual therapy. If you go to a typical Physical Therapy clinic, chances are you will be spending time on exercise machines and doing a lot of your therapy with a tech while your PT goes between you and other patients.
Treating You, Not Your Injury
To go through insurance you need to have a “medically necessary” injury. This means that there has to be reason to be seen regularly (1-3x/week for 6-8 weeks). This is a lot of time and money that isn’t necessary for most of the people that I see. As a Functional Manual Therapist, I expect to see changes with my patients within 3 visits. Also, typically it is preferred to spread sessions out so that your body can adapt to the changes being made during each visit.
More Affordable Visits
Self pay actually makes it cheaper for most patients. As health insurance has been changing, most places are considered “Out of network” which may mean minimal to no coverage for therapy. If I bill to insurance, the units billed for a 45 min session can come out to double what is charged through the self pay option. If insurance doesn’t cover therapy, it comes from the patients pocket!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many visits should I expect until I feel better?
While it is always my hopes that patients can feel a change after the first visit, I expect a change after 3 visits. This does not always mean you will be pain free or “cured” however I do expect a change. This also depends on the severity of the condition, how many systems are affected, how long the pain has been going on, patient goals, etc.
What are the benefits of this therapy vs regular physical therapy?
1-on-1 time with your physical therapist. Comprehensive evaluation of the whole body to create an individualized treatment plan and address the root of the issue and not just the symptoms. You also get the benefits of working with a small business which means more personal, easily access and communicate with your therapist and no middle man.
Does Functional Dry Needling hurt?
Functional Dry Needling can be uncomfortable, however most patients agree that the benefits afterwards outweight the discomfort during. The needle is a thin filament, much like what is used during accupunture. Usually you do not feel the needle penetrate the skin. You will, however, feel the twitch or cramping of the muscle invloved when a trigger point of a dysfunctional muscle is reached. People have many different ways that they describe this sensation and some handle it better than others. Pain afterwards resembles post-work out soreness and may last a few minutes to 1-2 days and can be treated with basic inflammation reduction techniques such as ice.
What causes tissue inflammation?
Infections, trauma, diet, repetitive movements, environmental toxins, chemical stress, emotional stress, post-surgery. To think that only one factor can be causing inflammation and/or dysfunction is very rare. We are complex creatures. The same goes for thinking one type of tissue or area can be affected by these above factors and inflammation. This is why it is so important to consider all systems and tissues when treating the body.
Do I need a script from my doctor to see you?
You do not need a script for the initial visit, however the state of Illinois does require at least one physician signature a year to see a Physical Therapist. Once completed, I will send your Initial Evaluation to your physician for a signature. If you do not have a primary care physician, chiropractor or other MD than can sign off on your initial evaluation I would be happy to refer you to someone.
In Pennsylvania, a script is not necessary when going through self pay therapy.
If you decide to submit your bill to insurance for reimbursement after the visit (in either state), in most cases you will need a physician signature or script to do so.
Why self-pay?
- Current co-pays for PT are around $40-50 per visit and expected to be seen 2-3 days a week for 6-8 weeks. Usually, you are getting a fraction of that time with your Physical Therapist (about 15 mins per session) and the rest of the time is doing exercises with an assistant. Therefore, you are spending about $480-$1200 for more of your time spent in therapy and less of your time spent with your actual therapist.
- Compare this to spreading only 3-4 visits in the month for $450-600 and 100% of your time spent with your Physical Therapist
- Also, co pays may be higher, the insurance may deny your claims or you may have used up all of your PT for the year causing even higher rates with typical PT
Typical PT:
- 2-3 times/week for 6-8 weeks
- Usually $40-50 co pay each visit
- Spend about 15 mins of the session with your actual therapist
- Spend $480-$1200
PT at LSPT:
- Spread 3-4 visits throughout the month
- Spend 100% of your time with the physical therapist
- Spend $450-600
Can I use my insurance?
Though I do not take insurance, I can provide you with a receipt or “Super Bill” after each session that you can then submit to your insurance if you would like. Just call your insurance and let them know you are going to “out of network” Physical Therapist and ask what you need to do to submit for reimbursement. I would be happy to help with any information needed for this process.
Can I use my HSA/FSA account?
Yes. This allows you to pay with pre-tax dollars.
1515 W Hubbard St.
Chicago, IL 60642
4880 Library Rd
Bethel Park, PA 15102