It's Your Right to Access Physical Therapists Directly in Texas

Did you know that current law in Texas prohibits you from directly accessing your physical therapist for treatment? 

Texas consumers seeking alternatives to prescription medication and surgery are choosing physical therapy for the prevention and treatment of conditions affecting movement and function, only to find arbitrary, unnecessary, and costly access barriers.

The average patient in Dallas and Houston waits roughly 20 days to see a primary care physician. ¹

Currently in Texas, physicians, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, physician assistants, and advanced nurse practitioners of all types (midwives, clinical specialists, FNPs) are all allowed to determine if a patient needs physical therapy.  Thus, the legislature has already determined that physician training is not needed to determine if physical therapy is appropriate for a patient.  Physical therapists are at least as qualified, if not more, than the other professions listed to determine if a patient's condition lies within their scope. The move to post-baccalaureate for physical therapists started more than 10 years ago, and today all 12 Texas PT programs culminate in a doctorate of physical therapy degree (DPT).

It is time to allow Texans direct access to physical therapists so they can benefit from the real cost savings associated with conservative management of movement and function-related conditions.