FLO Physical Therapy & Performance FAQ

This is the most common question that we are asked by prospective clients. While we are a participating Medicare provider, we are otherwise an out-of-network provider and do not bill insurance companies directly. We require payment in full at the time of your visit. Upon request we will provide you with the necessary receipts you need in order to file a self-claim with your insurance company, and many of our clients are able to receive some reimbursement for our services depending on their out-of-network benefits.

The truth is, most of our clients DO have health insurance coverage but choose to pay out-of-pocket in order to receive the higher level of care that we provide. For more information about how our process can actually SAVE you time and money long-term, please visit our Rates and Insurance page.

If you are a Medicare beneficiary participating in our therapy services you will need a referral from your physician. Otherwise, the state of North Carolina allows direct access to physical therapy services without the need for a physician referral.

We actually recommend that you see a physical therapist FIRST for any injury or condition that is affecting your ability to move. Unless you’re in immediate need of surgery, general practitioners and orthopedic specialists will often prescribe medication and send you to physical therapy anyway. Medication may be helpful for treating the symptoms of your injury including pain and inflammation, but full recovery can only happen if you address the cause of these symptoms.

As movement experts we can help you determine the true cause of your limitations and potentially avoid costly imaging and procedures in the future. After your evaluation if we feel that you would benefit from seeing a physician or other healthcare professional we can help steer you in the right direction.

Absolutely! You have 100% freedom to see any physical therapist that you choose, regardless of what options your doctor may give you. In order to receive the maximum benefits of a physical therapy program, however, it’s important that you find the right fit for YOU.

Generally speaking, the longer you wait after an acute injury to receive treatment, the longer it takes to fully recover. Mobility and strength deficits and movement compensations can develop quickly and should be addressed as early as possible after an injury or surgery. That being said, many surgical procedures involve protocols that dictate when you can begin physical therapy. We encourage anyone to schedule a free phone consultation if they have any questions about a recent injury or when to begin physical therapy.

This is a difficult question because the answer is based on many factors, including type and severity of injury and the characteristics of each individual client. We also understand that this is a very important question for our clients. We feel that it’s first necessary to recognize the difference between “healing” and “recovery”, which we dive into more in this article.

Often our clients can expect significant improvement in pain levels within the first 2-3 visits, but it may take longer to fully restore mobility and strength and safely return to previous activity levels. In the end our goal is to help you be BETTER than you were before you were injured.

We accept multiple forms of payment, including credit or debit cards, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), cash, or check. Payment in full is required at the time of each appointment and we do not offer any alternate payment plans.

(Helpful hint: we recommend using your HSA card if you have one. HSA contributions are pre-tax, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses – such as physical therapy – are tax-free, meaning you would receive a significant discount on our services! For example, if you are in the 22% tax bracket, a $110 physical therapy visit would effectively only cost you $85 if paid with your HSA card.)