Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to Your Questions, Care You Can Count On
We’ve gathered answers to the most common questions about our services, appointments, insurance, and more. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our team is happy to help.
Physical Therapy Guide
FAQ’s
What will my first visit look like?
As soon as you can. Whiplash and other crash injuries respond best to early treatment, before the muscles tighten up. You don’t need a referral, so there’s no reason to wait — call and get in this week.
Your first visit at Advance Physical Therapy is generally called Initial Evaluation. It begins with your physical therapist asking you questions about the onset of your pain or other conditions that made you see a physical therapist. Your physical therapist will also ask you questions about your medical conditions, past surgeries, medications, etc. They will review any test, or imaging results that you have brought along or if your physician has sent us any information.
Physical therapists at Advance Physical Therapy use their sound clinical reasoning skills, and experience to assess and analyze your problem to provide you with a personalized treatment plan.
They will also answer any questions you may have on the approximate time to heal, recover, or return to work. We cannot guarantee the exact time frame but can provide you with the best estimate based on our experience.
On most occasions, we will also start your treatment at your first visit and provide you with the home exercises to start between your sessions.
What should I bring with me at my first session?
Physician’s order
Imaging Results (X-Ray, MRIs etc.)
Your Medication List
Insurance Card and ID
How many physical therapy sessions do I need to attend?
Varies a lot based on your condition, presentation, time since the onset, medical history, personal factors, etc. A lot of patients with acute and sub-acute pain experience fewer symptoms in just a few visits.
Most physical therapy treatment plans are about 2-3/ Week for 4-8 Weeks.
How long will my treatment sessions be?
Typically an hour long.
Do I need to see my physician again to extend my physical therapy treatment?
No, we can send a recertification request to your physician’s office and extend your treatment sessions unless your referring physician has any objections.
I have Medicare, how many treatments do I get in a year?
Typically, 20-25 sessions, however, based on your condition we can request more sessions for you.
Can I see a physical therapist without a physician's order?
The state of Texas allows physical therapists with doctor degrees to evaluate and treat patients for 15 days without a doctor’s referral. We then will need a referral from your doctor. Our office can call your doctor to obtain this. However, your insurance might stipulate a physician’s order under many circumstances.
If you are seeing us without a physician’s order, please sign and bring the attached Disclosure form to this page with you on your first visit.
What should I wear?
Comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and sneakers. Wear something easy to move in.
Do I always see the same therapist?
You can certainly request to be always seen by the same therapist and our front office staff will put you on the schedule of the same therapist.
What are clinic hours?
Every clinic is different, some are open at 7 AM and some are open until 7 PM.
Saturday hours are available as well at some locations. Please check your preferred clinic’s webpage for hours.
I am a Medicare Patient, and I get home health care, Can I also come to the outpatient clinic for additional PT?
No, you cannot be seen at an outpatient clinic if you get any kind of home healthcare. Your home healthcare agency will have to completely discharge you before we can see you.
What are the charges if I do not have insurance?
You will first be greeted by the front desk receptionist who will provide you with the intake paperwork and collect your insurance card and your ID. To save time you can also download the paperwork provided on this page and bring it with you at your first visit.
Your first visit at Advance Physical Therapy is generally called Initial Evaluation. It begins with your physical therapist asking you questions about the onset of your pain or other conditions that made you see a physical therapist. Your physical therapist will also ask you questions about your medical conditions, past surgeries, medications, etc. They will review any test, or imaging results that you have brought along or if your physician has sent us any information.
Physical therapists at Advance Physical Therapy use their sound clinical reasoning skills, and experience to assess and analyze your problem to provide you with a personalized treatment plan.
They will also answer any questions you may have on the approximate time to heal, recover, or return to work. We cannot guarantee the exact time frame but can provide you with the best estimate based on our experience.
On most occasions, we will also start your treatment at your first visit and provide you with the home exercises to start between your sessions.
At the end, you will be checked out by the front desk staff, and they will create your upcoming appointments based on your therapist’s recommendations and what your schedule permits.
What are the charges if I have insurance?
Your actual out-of-pocket cost is determined by your specific insurance plan’s contracted rate and your individual coverage details. Most patients with active coverage pay significantly less.
Depending on your plan, your costs may include:
Copay or Coinsurance: A fixed fee (typically $20–$70) or a percentage of the visit cost.
Deductibles: You may be responsible for the contracted rate until your annual deductible is met.
We provide a complimentary Verification of Benefits before your first visit. Our team will contact your carrier directly to confirm exactly what is covered. We also strongly urge that you contact your insurer directly to understand your specific benefits, limits, and any requirements, so there are no surprises.
What insurances do you accept?
We are in-network providers with a wide range of insurance plans to ensure our services are accessible to as many patients as possible.
Our accepted coverage includes:
Medicare: We accept traditional Medicare and many Medicare Advantage plans.
Private Insurance: We work with most major commercial carriers (e.g., BlueCross BlueShield, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Humana, Ambetter, Multiplan, Community Health Choice, etc).
Please Note: Because insurance provider networks change periodically, we recommend contacting our billing office directly to verify that we are currently in-network with your specific plan before your appointment.
