“Medically Necessary” for Insurance Purposes
The problem with “medically necessary” definitions is that it places constraints on the type of affordable care that’s available to patients. This is because the definition refuses to acknowledge care that may not be reactive to a specific catastrophe but is useful and life-altering all the same. As a result, this puts physical therapists – and patients – between a rock and a hard place. Two of the most common examples of this are preventive and long-term physical therapy.
The Importance of Preventive & Long-term Care
Preventive, long-term physical therapy may not fall under the vague umbrella of “medically necessary” for insurance purposes, but that doesn’t make it any less legitimate. In reality, this type of care can be life-changing: it can reduce the risk of heart disease, prevent bone diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis, boost mindfulness and improve mental health, maximize strength and mobility, and provide a number of other essential services for long-term mind and body wellness. If you’re looking for a physical therapy service that falls outside of the “medically necessary” insurance umbrella, you should not give up; there are options available to you that circumvent the bureaucracy and limitations of insurance.
A Cash-based Option
Cash-based physical therapy shirks the restrictive model of insurance altogether, opting instead for a limitation-free model of care that places the needs of each patient above anything else. Every cash-based approach is different, and at Purpose PT’s cash approach exists because we want to give our patients options beyond the rigid guidelines of insurance companies. Practicing as a cash-based provider allows us to tailor our plans to each patient; it gives us the freedom to work with all of our patients to create treatment plans that evolve as their needs do. We’re not here to tell you that cash-based physical therapy is the best choice for you; our goal is to make sure that you know it does exist as an option if you’re looking for holistic, patient-centered care.