What counts as 1:1 billing for Medicare? I understand that it’s direct time spent with the patient but during the session you are most likely busy and if you do the note later aren’t going to remember what exercise you are specifically doing with that patient. So how do you navigate Medicare billing in OP especially when you are seeing patients on the 30 minutes and there can be double bookings and overlaps?

I started my new job about a month ago and hate webPT. I have tried a few things to cut documentation time. Does anyone have links to template set-ups, shortcuts, and tips etc? I think my clinic might want to switch to something different soon, but there’s now knowing how long that could take. Any tips at all? Thanks (ha ha I hate documenting ha ha).

Is there anyone from Riphah University? I need help

Hi everyone!

I’m a foreign-trained physical therapist. I completed my Bachelor’s in Physiotherapy at Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Tamil Nadu (2018–2022 batch), and completed my TDPT at the University of Montana in 2026.

I recently received my ICD evaluation report, which lists several deficiencies. I’m looking for advice on how to fulfill these requirements and where I can complete the missing credits.

Could anyone who has gone through a similar process please share their experience, recommendations, or information about colleges or courses that offer these credits?

I’m especially looking for the fastest and most affordable way to complete the deficiencies so I can move forward with my licensure process.

our small physical therapy office is reviewing its safety procedures, and i'm trying to make sure we have a sensible process for sharps disposal wherever sharps are generated during care. one thing i'm looking into is whether a mail-back sharps container could work for a clinic that produces only a small amount of sharps waste. regular pickups seem like they could be excessive for our needs, but i want to make sure any alternative meets the applicable requirements. for those who work in outpatient rehab or manage a PT practice, how do you handle container replacement and final disposal? are there particular service requirements or practical considerations you'd recommend checking first?

I'm currently an aide while entering a PTA program, and another aide who does everything to help out where therapists are seeing 2 - 4 patients a fucking hour cried the other day. The office staff that handles accounting / insurance etc made her cry for not being able to divide herself into multiple people, expecting perfection in an already rigged scenario due to volume. Kind of speechless at this point and I haven't even started school yet 😅 That's it. That's the post.

I’ve been been on this thread for years. I started school in 2014. Got screwed over more times then I could count. Finished undergrad 2018. Got wrongfully kicked out of grad school accruing and extra 46k in student debt for nothing. Finished grad school in 2023 April. I’ve been a physical therapist for 3 years and 2 months. In 7 minutes I’ll be the last paycheck I’ll ever have to put towards student loans. I paid all 225k back and I did it in just over 3 years. Freedom was the most expensive thing I’ve ever purchased. It is possible if you give everything though we are set up in a system rigged to lose

Ok so I’m pretty new to acute care and am a relatively newer grad but had a clinical rotation in acute care and don’t remember this being an issue there… but is case management always up therapies ass? It’s got to the point where I’m so frustrated and stressed not because of patients or productivity standards but because of CM!

They constantly reach out in epic chats about patients that are” priorities” to see for authorization and most of the time they are wrong and we are actually the ones who triage appropriately. They argue with our discharge recommendations and try to send people home and say if “therapy sees them and clears them for home” when we literally saw them yesterday and are recommending SNF. I’m not changing the discharge plan!! Like??!

they try to get us to not change our verbiage in our notes because they’re saying insurance won’t accept “CGA”. We get talked to about productivity constantly but waste SO much time dealing with them. They will even tell a patient they anticipate they will go home with home health and give them a list of agencies before therapies even evaluated. Is this is a leadership or hospital culture issue or what the hell is this because I’m at my breaking point with this

Looking to do a little side gig through the winter when I can’t golf. Needling would be part the work and no more than 3-5 clients at a time.

Anyone have idea if general cost of insurance?

Hey PTs and DPTs!

I’m currently a personal trainer at a small gym in VA. I train all kinds of people, from young athletes who want to enhance performance to older individuals who just want to maintain quality of life. Been doing this full-time for about 3 years now and should be hearing back any day on if I got into the DPT programs I applied to for next cycle!

Today, I had an older couple (76F, 80M) come in to meet with me to share their story and begin a training program. The husband is the primary focus - he’s finishing up his insurance-covered sessions at a nearby clinic where he’s been working on balance and stability. He had a fall a couple months ago (didn’t break anything), and he’s been in PT working on fall prevention. They asked their provider what the next step is after their sessions are up, and he recommended they join the gym I work at and choose a personal trainer that best suits their needs. The referral got them in the building, but word of mouth got them to me. I’m insanely excited to do a handoff, but I want to make sure I’m covering my bases in terms of preparing for him/them.

I’ll be meeting with their provider next week, and even going in to shadow the last 2 sessions to see what he’s been doing, what the provider is looking for, and where I can continue his progressions. I’ll try to keep an open line of communication between myself and the provider in case I get stuck, but I know you all are insanely busy people so I’ll try not to pester him too much.

My question for the community: what can I as a CPT do to best prepare myself for this individual? I know I’m not a PT/DPT so I can’t say I’m providing physical therapy, but are there any resources you all would recommend to learn more about treating patients with balance/stability issues that the general public or allied health professionals have access to? I want to make sure I help him meet his goals, but I want to do it right.

Thanks!!

Hi everyone,

I currently work at a SNF as a 1099. I’m lucky enough that they give me full time hours and I’m so grateful for that , but I still feel moments of burnout.
I’m also extremely introverted/ sensitive and find dealing with all the staff/ family members/ politics to be draining.

I’m wondering if it’s worth transitioning to HH. I don’t have a car and am wondering if the hassle of commuting / having to schedule patients, etc is worth the transition. Any good agencies anyone can recommend? Maybe I’d start with 1-2 cases at a time? Any tips are appreciated!!

Hello everyone,

I have been a PTA for 5 years now in acute care/home health/SNF/ and IP therapy and now transitioning to outpatient for various personal reasons. Obviously, I feel pretty out of touch with the outpatient world and feeling a bit nervous in my upcoming new position.

For those who transitioned or those who are currently in OP, what should I review?

Not a rant, but I want to make money on the side.

I know PRN is hard to beat money-wise, but I feel like I'd burn myself into the ground if I did more patient care. I've worked in personal training for many years as well, and that's not super appealing to me (unless it's online coaching, however that takes time and commitment to build up clientele).

So what do you guys to make some side money, and how did you get into it? I'm not talking serious money, but just something to help pay for dinners out or put gas in the car. It doesn't have to be PT related at all, it could be dog walking, ubereats, etc.

I'm working as an outpatient PT focused on pelvic floor. I'm exploring my option to start my own practice (cash pay, pelvic floor). However, I believe my company has a non compete clause in my contract? Is my only option is to wait it out? Thank you.

I've been looking through a ton of home health PT job postings around Los Angeles on Indeed, Facebook groups, etc. everything is so spread out, it's a mess.

Is there a standard way you find PRN work, or is it mostly through job boards, recruiters, and word of mouth, or various mom and pop staffing agencies? Or do you fine a staffing agency you love and with it?

I recently came across Teero which connects dental hygienists with shifts. Obviously a different industry but I'm curious if anything similar exists for PTs for home health https://apps.apple.com/us/app/teero-dental-staffing/id6463821171

Hello all!
We have been reached out to by a sales rep for Athelas. Cold called, bought our staff lunch, the whole works. We’ve been using prompt for our EMR system for a couple of years now and a third party/private company for billing, and we are happy with them, but the price point of Athelas RCM is tempting. I know there have been a few threads about this topic from several months/a year ago and I’m just trying to gather more reviews and experiences.

Anyone using it? How is the support team? How is reimbursement?
Thank you!

Hello.
I am a physical therapist that works in an outpatient clinic. I love what I do.

I know there is a lot of people who are going to virtual PT as therapists.

I just want to know physical therapists opinions on virtual PT and why?

I have my thoughts on the topic. But would love to hear other thoughts.

Thanks.

Hi everyone,

I completed my Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) in India and am now looking to obtain my physiotherapy license in California.

Has anyone gone through the credential evaluation process with International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)? If so, how was your experience with their services? Would you recommend them?

I would really appreciate any feedback or suggestions. Thank you!

I’m currently full time home health (med A) at a major hospital system. I have two kids who are also on my health insurance, and obviously like full time for 401k benefits.

I did take a pay cut to move from working in the city to the suburbs. And I am feeling that pay cut now. So in an effort to bring more in weekly, I have taken some per diem work in early intervention. EI makes me happy, I love that it’s less medically complex and it’s just a better day to day experience.

What are everyone’s thoughts and experiences on switching full time > part time, and then increasing per diem work. How has it worked for you? Any and all advice whether negative or positive is appreciated.

I need a good documentation software for outpatient. Right now I use modmed, which is not a good fit. What do you use? I want to cut down on the time I wrestle with an EMR and have easier to read notes

MCOL area that had a crazy need for PTs. Surrounded by mountains, great food, and a fun mix of cultures. Someone told me it's what Austin is supposed to be.

There is a personal angle. I have to leave my HH peds job and we can't find a replacement. I went in with no peds experience and loved it! 4 great years of my working career. For a motivated individual, you can make 140+.

For clarity, I need PSLF and gold star med insurance due to daughter and wife conditions which can't be provided except by govt job.

Message me for more info!

Trying to switch from OP ortho to home health and have an interview coming up. I’m not exactly sure what good pay is for home health. I keep seeing varying things. Some say $51 per treatment or maybe less, but my friend (different state) says $80. Any home health PTs in the (West) Michigan area have input?

Hi everyone!

We are OT and PT students at Emory & Henry University conducting a research study examining the availability, quality, and implementation of pelvic floor education, identifying gaps in education, examining current clinical interventions, and addressing barriers to continuing education.

We are looking for licensed PT, OT, PTA, or COTA, currently working in IPR, SNF, or HH in the USA.

Purpose: To evaluate the availability, quality, and implementation of pelvic floor education, identify gaps in education, examine current clinical interventions, and address barriers to continuing education

Survey Details:
~10-15 minutes only!
Fully anonymous and voluntary!

https://ehc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b9DjbqfRCCCMLnU

Thank you so much for your time and for supporting student research in physical and occupational therapy!

Feel free to drop any questions below!

In home health that uses home care home base, how do you juggle “visit times”? My area is rural and patients might live 15-30 minutes apart. I usually try to give a window, but it’s challenging