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You can now see a Physical Therapist in the State of MO without a doctor referral.

• Missouri Senate Bill 51, effective August 28, 2023, empowers physical therapists with a doctorate or at least five years of clinical experience to evaluate and initiate treatment without requiring a prescription or referral from a healthcare provider. This new law will save people money and allow them to quickly access the care they need. Under the old law, patients had to wait weeks or months to be seen by their physician to get a referral for physical therapy. They had to pay that co-pay and then schedule an appointment with a P.T. and pay again. When people are in pain and need a physical therapist’s help, that delay in care not only causes unnecessary expenses, it can prevent them from getting the care they need when they need it.
• Under the new law in Missouri, physical therapists must refer patients with certain conditions that go beyond the scope of physical therapy, to see an approved healthcare provider. This also applies to any patient who doesn’t demonstrate improvement within ten visits or 30 days, whichever occurs first.