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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Below please find a list of questions that we are frequently asked as well as their answers. If you have additional questions, please contact us!

Questions about LRS Physical Therapy:

  • What is manual therapy?
  • What does one-to-one care mean?
  • What do the physical therapist’s credentials mean (ie. DPT, CIMT)?
  • What is the difference between manual therapy and physical therapy?
  • Do you do ultrasound?

Billing Questions:

  • Do I need a referral for physical therapy?
  • What is PIP?
  • What is a copay?
  • What is a deductible?
  • What is coinsurance?
  • What is secondary billing?
  • What are benefit limits?
  • Do you have to bill my insurance?
  • Do you offer a discount if I don’t have insurance?
  • I never got an Explanation of Benefit (EOB) from my insurance –can you send me one?
  • What’s my best option if you are out of network with my insurance?
  • Why do we have a no show / late cancel policy?
  • What if I need to cancel my appointment over the weekend?
  • I cancelled my appointment. Why did I get a reminder call?
  • What happens if my therapist cancels my appointment at the last minute?

Answers:

What is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy is an advanced level of physical therapy training that includes skilled, specific hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat soft tissues and joint structures. Expected outcomes may include managing pain, increasing range of motion, reducing soft tissue tension, eliminating joint inflammation, increasing joint mobility, improving joint stability, proper recruitment of muscle groups, restoring normal movement patterns, improving general fitness and returning to work/sport. Learn more about Manual Therapy.

What does one-to-one care mean?
Pioneering the 1:1 model of care, LRS clinic schedule one-hour patient visits entirely with a physical therapist. We have elected to avoid the industry standard of scheduling 2 or more patients per hour with unlicensed staff, or physical therapy assistants, participating in patient care. LRS only provides physical therapy services solely with physical therapists, not with assistants, aides, trainers or any other unlicensed staff.

What do the physical therapist’s credentials mean (ie. DPT, CIMT, PT)?
At LRS, we employ experienced licensed physical therapist to deliver care. Our skilled Physical Therapists are highly motivated to continue to learn and evolve as clinical specialists. Going beyond just weekend seminars in training, our staff continues to seek professional advancement through advanced clinical training, earning the credentials you see after their names.

Credentials:

  • PT– Physical Therapist
  • DPT – Doctorof Physical Therapy
  • MPT – Masters in Physical Therapy
  • CIMT – Certified Integrated Manual Therapist (CIMT).

What is the difference between manual therapy and physical therapy?
Manual therapy is a specialty within the field of physical therapy. Traditional physical therapy focuses more on managing and treating the symptoms of the disease process, while manual therapy focuses more on performing biomechanical, tissue-based examination to identify the cause of the disease process. In treating the cause, along with the symptoms, the outcome has higher expectations.

Do you do ultrasound?
Yes, we do provide ultrasound services.

Do I need a referral for physical therapy?
In Michigan, Physical Therapist can evaluate patient without physician prescription. Currently, the State of Michigan requires a referral for physical therapy treatment. In general, it is best to have a referral or a prescription for physical therapy. This information allows your Physician to let your Therapist know your needs, which will your Therapist to provide you with the highest level of individualized care.

What is PIP:
PIP stands for Personal Injury Protection. It is a benefit (provided by your auto insurance company), which you will use to cover medical expenses after an automobile accident. Please check with your auto insurance company to see if you have PIP coverage.

What is a copay?
A copay is a per visit fee assessed to the patient by the insurance company at each visit. The patient should pay this fee to the provider at the time of each visit.

What is a deductible?
A deductible is the yearly dollar amount due from the patient to the provider. This amount is processed by the insurance company, but is not paid. The patient is responsible for issuing payment to the provider.

What is coinsurance?
Coinsurance is the percentage of a visit not paid for by insurance. That is the amount that the patient owes the provider.

What is secondary billing?
Patients often have more than one insurance. Secondary billing is any billing to another insurance company after the primary insurance has paid. LRS will bill your “secondary” once. After that, patients are expected to follow up on any unpaid balance with their secondary insurance company.

What are benefit limits?
Every insurance plan has limitations on how many services, what type of service a patient can receive under their insurance benefits, or the length of time services may be provided. Patients should contact their insurance companies to determine what limits are in place regarding Physical Therapy. Patients are responsible for any balance if benefit limits are exceeded.

Do you have to bill my insurance?
Patient’s may choose to not have claims billed to their insurance company. However, the Patient would then be required to remit payment in FULL at the time of service.

Do you offer a discount if I don’t have insurance?
If you are paying in cash and have no insurance, a discount may be arranged. This discount is in consideration of not having to incur some of the administrative costs of billing insurance.

I never got an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from my insurance – can you send me one?
No. Please contact your insurance company or go online to your insurance company’s website where you can request or review your EOBs.

What’s my best option if you are out of network with my insurance?
Your best option is to contact your insurance company to see if you have out-of-network benefits. Once you do, you can contact our LRS clinic to discuss your options. If you do not have out-of-network benefits, you will be expected to pay in cash at the time of service.

Why do we have a no show / late cancel policy?
LRS Physical Therapy is a unique business in which patients receive one-to-one care. Due to our business model, it is imperative that patients respect the time dedicated to their care. The No Show / Late Cancel policy is in place to reinforce the need for consistent care in order for a patient’s condition to improve. In order for LRS Physical Therapy to be able to continue to provide one-to-one care, we must collect these fees if a patient doesn’t show up for an appointment or cancels within 24 hours of their appointment time.

What if I need to cancel my appointment over the weekend?
If you need to cancel your appointment over the weekend, you can call the clinic and leave a message explaining why you need to cancel. On Monday, when messages are checked, you will receive a call to confirm that your appointment was cancelled.

I cancelled my appointment. Why did I get a reminder call?
Reminder calls go out two days before your scheduled appointment. If you cancelled your appointment, but still received a reminder call, please call us to confirm that your appointment was in fact cancelled.

What happens if my Therapist cancels my appointment at the last minute?
If your Therapist has to cancel your appointment at the last minute due to an emergency, we will contact you to either reschedule  your appointment with your regular Therapist, or schedule you with another Therapist on the same day if one is available.