Dry Creek Physical Therapy- Utah's Best Physical Therapy and Wellness

What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is considered a conservative method addressing the treatment, healing, and prevention of injuries and disabilities. Physical therapy focuses primarily, but not solely, on pain relief, promoting healing, restoring function and movement, and returning the patient to their most optimal physical health. A big part of physical therapy is educating the patient on how to manage their pain and teaching exercises to restore their abilities and management techniques to prevent exacerbations.

What is a Physical Therapist?
Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability.

The minimum educational requirement is a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited education program. While some programs offer a master's degree, a growing majority of programs offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Currently, 199 colleges and universities nationwide offer professional physical therapist education programs; 85.7% offer the DPT and the remaining programs are planning to convert.

After graduation, candidates must pass a state-administered national exam. Other requirements for physical therapy practice vary from state to state according to physical therapy practice acts or state regulations governing physical therapy.

How long does a session last?
Your initial evaluation and treatment session will last approximately 60 minutes depending on the extent of your problem. Each succeeding visit will last 30-45 minutes.

What should I wear for my appointment?
Loose comfortable clothing is preferable. If you have a knee or ankle problem, shorts are appropriate. Tank tops and jog bras are helpful for our female patients with an upper body injury or ailment.

Do I need a referral from my doctor to come to Physical Therapy?
Yes and No. In the state of Utah a referral is not required for treatment. However some insurance require a referral for insurance reimbursement. It is always best to check with your insurance carrier prior to beginning treatment. All Medicare Patients require a referral from their Primary Care Doctor. All Worker Compensation Patients require a referral from their Primary Care Doctor.

How many times will I need to come?
Your Physical Therapist will discuss an overall treatment plan that will include goals and anticipated outcomes. Response to Therapy varies per individual. Number of visits and weeks to be treated will depend on the diagnosis, your response to treatment, your commitment to the treatment plan.

Will the treatment cause me pain?
We do our best to limit the amount of pain you will experience during your session. Your therapist will help you manage your pain and determine when pain with treatment is expected or not.

Where are you located?
3300 North Running Creek Way, Building B Suite 150, Lehi, Utah 84043 (We are located just South of the traffic light opposite IM Flash, and just south on 1200 East from Smiths. The professional plaza is Dry Creek Professional Plaza, and we are located in the 4th building going south from highway 92 on the east side of the road. Our entrance is on the north side of building B.)

What is copay?
A copay is a set dollar amount determined by your insurance plan that is due each visit.

Will my physical therapy copay be the same as my physician office visit copay?
It may be, but generally the physical therapy copay is different than the doctor's office visit copay. This is one reason that we suggest you contact your insurance carrier about copay amount for the service.

What is coinsurance?
A coinsurance is a percentage determined by your insurance plan that you, the patient will be responsible for.

What does 80/20 coinsurance mean?
Your insurance covers 80% of the usual and customary fee and you are responsible for the remaining 20%. We suggest you pay a portion of your coinsurance at each visit to offset an accumulated bill at the end of treatment.

What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount of annual medical expenses that a health plan member must pay before the plan will begin to cover expenses. Deductibles vary with insurance plans. It would be best for you to check with your insurance carrier to advise you in your particular coverage. If you have not met your deductable we suggest you pay a portion of your deductible at each visit to offset an accumulated bill at the end of treatment.

What forms of payment does Dry Creek Physical Therapy accept?
We are happy to accept Visa, Master Card, Personal Check, or Cash.

Why do I have to file a claim on my own insurance policy? I was not at fault.
If you do not file a claim with your insurance company we will be unable to bill them. Utah is a no fault state.

What is Med Pay or PIP?
It is the medical benefit of your auto insurance policy. Each policy has a set amount for medical benefits. Your adjuster can help explain your policy's benefits. When the set amount has been exhausted the insurance company will notify you and the balance of medical bills becomes your responsibility. When we receive formal notification of Med Pay exhaust, we can then bill the other party's insurance or your health insurance.

Why can't the other party's insurance policy be billed?
We can bill them, but they will not pay us until time of settlement. This is the time when we would ask our patient to sign a Lien, which we will forward to the other parties insurance company. Once settlement has been reached, generally the balance is paid in full. We will require minimum monthly payment to keep your account in a current status

You have my auto insurance information claim number, why do you need my health insurance information?
The reason we ask for additional insurance information is because most insurance companies ask you to obtain a referral or authorization from your doctor prior to rehabilitation services. Insurance companies and doctor offices do not give out retro referrals or authorizations for treatment. Also medical coverage on your policy has a limited amount of money to pay out and once that is exhausted we can bill your health insurance for the difference.

What is a Lien/letter of protection?
A Lien is voluntary and is basically a promise by the patient to protect our interests in the event of a settlement. A letter of protection is a document that we receive from your attorney, stating that he/she will protect our interests at the time of settlement. Your attorney will need your authorization to give us this letter so he/ she can pay us out of the settlement proceeds.

What does settlement mean?
Once the PIP exhaust, the remaining unpaid medical bill becomes the responsibility of the patient. Often a patient will decide to secure an attorney to attempt to settle with the third party insurer. Should this be the case, it is our policy to request you to sign a Medical Lein

What does litigation mean?
When your case goes into litigation, it means that your attorney was not able to settle the case. Now the case will be tried, and the court will decide who will be held liable.

What does third party insurance or liability mean?
If we are given the information for that insurance company, we usually mail a Lien to them. And if you give your authorization they will cut us a check upon time of settlement.

How does the billing affect me?
We bill you at the conclusion of your therapy session. Please contact your adjuster to verify PIP allowances

Do I have to pay anything on my bill, even though I have a attorney?
Due to the Statue of Limitations, which vary from state to state, litigated accounts may take up to 2-3 years to get settled. Therefore we ask you to make minimum monthly payments to keep your account current. Payments are due until the case has settled or the account has been paid in full.

How is it decided which insurance company is billed first?
It is our policy to bill auto accident claims to the insurance companies involved in the following order:

Patient's auto insurance, commonly referred to as "med pay"
Other driver's auto insurance if different than the patient, known as "liability or third party".
Patient's health insurance.

If your personal health insurance is billed, any deductibles, coinsurances or copays will apply.

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