FAQ

Do I need a prescription or referral to come to physical therapy?

In most cases, no. Connecticut state law allows direct access to physical therapy, but a few insurances still require a prescription in order to access benefits. When you call to make your first appointment, we verify your specific plan’s requirements and will let you know if a prescription is needed.

How do I choose a physical therapy clinic?

Who will work with you and provide treatment? We only use licensed physical therapists and do not use aides, assistants, or trainers to assess or provide treatment. This ensures that you perform the therapeutic exercises safely and effectively, and we make necessary modifications in a timely manner, allowing you to progress and feel better faster.
Can you speak to the therapist before the first visit? Call us – we are happy to put you on the phone with a PT before you come in, and could even schedule you for a free consultation in order to get your questions answered and make sure we are a good fit for you.
What will they work on? Make sure your needs are prioritized and addressed.
What will treatment entail? Evidence-based physical therapy focuses on manual techniques, therapeutic exercise, and patient education. Heat, cold, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound may be indicated in some cases, but they should not be the primary treatment.
Will you get a home exercise program? A good physical therapist will educate, encourage, and empower you to participate in your own healing process.

Who wil see me?

What should I wear? What should I bring?

You should wear comfortable clothing that allows you to expose the area that will be evaluated and treated. If you have long hair, you may want to bring a hair tie or a clip.

For your evaluation please remember to bring a photo ID and insurance card, as well as your prescription if you have one. If you are using Worker’s Compensation or auto insurance, please bring your claim number and case manager’s contact information.

Please feel free to bring x-rays, MRI report or other relevant test results to your first appointment.

Do you accept my insurance?

We accept most insurances. We are in-network with Medicare and some commercial insurance plans, and are considered out-of-network providers for others.

Even if we are out-of-network with your insurance, we will submit claims on your behalf so that you don’t have to worry about it. We verify your benefits and contact you prior to your first appointment so that you are well informed before you come in. Please note that our company policy does not allow us to relay financial information over e-mail or voicemail.

If you do not have insurance or would prefer to pay for your treatment directly, we offer discounted rates or payment plans.

How does the billing process work?

Physical therapists bill for their services similarly to doctors and other health care professionals. Health care payments are becoming increasingly complex, but here is a simplified outline of how it works:

If you are using an insurance plan, you may pay for your treatment in whole or in part (copay, coinsurance, and/or deductible) at the time or service. A coinsurance means the insurance company pays for a percentage of the cost. We do our best to estimate what your portion is, in order to avoid surprises
We submit the charges to your insurance company based on what you and your therapist do during treatment. These charges are based on Common Procedure Terminology (CPT) codes, which are standard to all medical professionals.
You receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance company. In most cases, the payment for their portion is sent directly to us. If you have a balance due, we will send you a statement. If you have paid beyond what you were due, we will send you a check.

As we mentioned above, health care payments can be complex and exceptions to this example are not uncommon. While the payment process is usually completed within 60 days, it is not unusual for a PT clinic to receive payment as much as six months later.

How long will I need to come?

This is highly variable and depends on your current condition and your goals. On average, about 10 visits.

Some simple and straight forward conditions may only require 2-4 visits. We usually like to follow up and adjust exercises after the first treatment, so it generally takes more than one visit.

If you have a chronic or complicated condition, or if you have very ambitious goals, you may expect to have a longer plan of care.

You and your therapist will create your plan together at the end of your first visit. It is common to start with 2 or 3 times per week for the first couple of weeks and for the frequency to gradually decrease as you progress and start meeting your goals, to the point where your last visits may be a couple of weeks apart.

Will physical therapy be painful?

Treatment does not have to be painful to be effective. At Conquer PT we often say “no pain IS gain”.

In fact, one of our patients’ common primary objectives is pain relief. This may be accomplished with a combination of hands-on techniques, ice, and in some cases electrical stimulation or ultrasound. Movement often provides pain relief as well. Your physical therapist will guide you with proper exercise technique to not only relieve pain but to also restore range of motion, strength, and endurance.

In some cases, for example when recovering range of motion after total knee replacement or after shoulder surgery, you may experience some pain during treatment. It is critical that you communicate with your physical therapist about your pain or discomfort – we do not wish you to experience any unnecessary pain. Your therapist will be happy to adjust your treatment to minimize your pain and maximize your comfort.

We look forward to helping you heal

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