Frequently Asked Questions

Physical Therapy, from a Movement Matters standpoint, is living, working, and playing in the presence of injury and/or pain, with a progressive plan of action for improving the situation. It is the use of movement, breathing, tissue work, sleep, hydration, food, stress management, and environment as medicine to minimize pain and optimize physical function. It does this by driving neuroplasticity (learning & changes in your brain), progressive increases in physical resilience (strength & mobility), and compounding physiological gains from improvements in habits and lifestyle factors (breathing, sleep, nutrition, etc) allowing for optimization of how you physically move, feel, and perform.

Do you have difficulty doing everyday activities or moving around in your day-to-day life because of pain and/or physical limitations? Do you have aches and pains that are holding you back from doing what you want or need to do? If you answered yes, you may meet the threshold of “medical necessity” and be a candidate for Physical Therapy.

The following is a far from exhaustive list of issues commonly addressed in Physical Therapy:

Back Pain, Neck Pain, Joint Pain, Rotator Cuff injuries, Fractures, Sprains & Strains, Sports Injuries, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Pre-hab (pre-surgical preparation), Post-Surgical Rehabilitation (i.e. ACL reconstruction, Achilles tendon repair, ORIF fractures, meniscus repair, labral repairs), balance issues.

If you want to move better, feel better, and perform better, but do not have pain or meet the “medical necessity” threshold, you may benefit from Specialized Personal Training with Movement Matters. Specialized Personal training takes all of the evaluative lenses, skillsets, and experiences of this Medical & Movement Pro and puts them to work for you to help you level up, do what you want to do, and age like a boss. Evaluation is rigorous, complete, and done through both medical and performance based lenses. Programming is built upon the evaluation and bespoke to the client. Program upgrades are done regularly as a client improves. Manual therapy and other treatment modalities are used as needed to optimize results. This is a great option for people who want the perks of working with a Physical Therapist but fall outside of the realms of “medical necessity.”

Movement Matters is an out-of-network provider which means I do not have direct contracts with insurance companies for service reimbursement. I charge a flat fee to my clients due at time of service (ApplePay, Zelle, credit card, Venmo, or check). Some private insurance plans provide out-of-network reimbursement services for physical therapy services. This is dependent upon the company and the provisions of the plan. To find out if your plan covers out-of-network services, check out the next question.

There is a customer service number on the back of your insurance card. Call that number to speak to them directly. Tell them you are seeking physical therapy services from an out-of-network provider. Ask them: Do they reimburse for out-of-network physical therapy services? If they do: What are their policies re: out-of-network reimbursement? What is their reimbursement rate? Is there a deductible? Is a referral necessary prior to treatment by an out-of-network provider? Do they require additional paperwork for reimbursement? If they require additional paperwork, please obtain copies of it.

Companies and policies vary tremendously in their reimbursement practices. Some companies will pick up a percentage of the bill immediately. Others may require your deductible to be met before picking up a percentage. Some will not reimburse at all.

Note: Insurance reimbursement, if available from your provider, covers only Physical Therapy services that fall under the insurance company’s guidelines for “medical necessity.”

I accept FSA/HSA (Health Savings Accounts) cards, as long as they have a major credit card logo (Visa or Mastercard) on them. Please check with your plan provider for specific details as to what your benefits and limits may be. Some plans may require you to pay out of pocket then submit the bill to your HSA plan. Requirements vary by company and plan.

Being an out-of-network provider allows me to utilize my 22 years of clinical experience and education to the fullest without artificial restrictions imposed upon your care by insurance providers that have zero vested interest in your personal health and success. I can work with each person for the duration and frequency that is most appropriate for them. I can utilize whatever modalities or modes of exercise we believe to be most effective for each person to meet their goals. I have the time and energy to perform thorough evaluation and regular re-evaluation, analyze data and trends, utilize manual hands-on-techniques to their fullest, teach the “whys” and “hows” of what is going on and how we are addressing it, and provide full attention to your program design and progression through the full continuum of care. I am able to educate you for the long term care of your body. I am able to work in the grey area that exists at the end of “medical necessity,” when insurance decides you are no longer eligible for services, but you are not yet back to awesome. I am able to see you through “back to awesome” and then continue to be a resource to you in the future. You have a PT who knows you and your history on speed dial in the event that you should benefit from assistance again. I am able to provide maintenance care for people who benefit from continued hands-on work, tune-ups, and program modifications post-surgically, in the attempt to avoid surgery, and following injury. I am able to use all my PT skillsets to help with recovery and performance optimization. Basically, I can use all of my Medical & Movement Pro skillsets in your service any time you require them to physically be and feel your best. I can help people to be pro-active in their health rather than to just help stomp out fires when they occur. I prefer to practice with all skillsets on deck and ready to serve. I have found my greatest joy in my professional life practicing in this manner.

Physical Therapy Initial Evaluation, 75 minutes, $200.

Follow-up Physical Therapy Appointment, 60 minutes, $160.

Prepaid Physical Therapy Discount Package, 4x60 minute sessions, or 4 hours of time that can be broken into 30min or 60 min blocks, $575 (a $65 savings).

Payment is due at the time of service. Apple Pay, Venmo, Check, credit card, and cash are accepted. A 3% service fee is added for Venmo and credit card payments.

Licensure laws require physical therapists to see patients in person or via telehealth only in states in which they hold PT licenses. I am licensed in VT and NY and therefore can work with patients who are located in VT and NY. I can provide personal training to clients located anywhere.

Vermont: No. Vermont is an unrestricted Direct Access state for PT services. Following verbal or email consultation with you, I may ask that you obtain a referral before being seen as there are some conditions that are of sufficient complexity and /or severity as to warrant MD consideration prior to beginning Physical Therapy care. I may also ask to be able to speak to your physician in order to establish seamless continuity of communication and highest level of care for you.

New York: No, not at first, but there are the following restrictions: New York State Law permits Physical Therapists (with a minimum of three years of clinical experience) to evaluate and treat patients without a valid prescription/referral for 30 days or 10 visits, whichever comes first. This patient right has been termed Direct Access. After 30 days, or 10 visits, whichever comes first, a valid prescription/referral is required by law for continuation of Physical Therapy treatment services. A valid prescription/referral for Physical Therapy is one made by a physician, dentist, podiatrist, or nurse practitioner.

Following verbal or email consultation with you, I may ask that you obtain a referral before being seen as there are some conditions that are of sufficient complexity and /or severity as to warrant MD consideration prior to beginning Physical Therapy care. I may also ask to be able to speak to your physician in order to establish seamless continuity of communication and highest level of care for you.