Kansas is one of 26 states that allow direct patient access to physical therapy with some provisions. Make sure you are acquainted with these restrictions before pursuing direct access for physical therapy in Kansas.
A physical therapist in Kansas may evaluate and initiate treatment on a patient without a referral. If a direct access physical therapy patient in Kansas does not progress toward documented treatment goals within 10 visits or 15 business days (whichever comes first) from the first date of treatment following the initial evaluative visit, the physical therapist must obtain a referral from an appropriate licensed healthcare practitioner.
Before treatment with direct access physical therapy in Kansas can begin, the physical therapist must provide written notice to any self-referring patient that a physical therapy diagnosis and a medical diagnosis are not one and the same.
The physical therapist must obtain approval from an appropriate, licensed healthcare provider before performing wound debridement.
If the patient is currently being treated in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center, the facility may require a physician order or referral for physical therapy services in Kansas.
Physical therapists may provide—without a referral—direct access to physical therapy in Kansas that do not treat a specific condition in the following scenarios:
workplace injury prevention; or
public education related to fitness, disease prevention, and health promotion.
Physical therapists can also provide direct access physical therapy to special education students in Kansas without a referral if the treatment or services will allow the students to meet the provisions of their individualized education plans (IEPs) or individualized family service plans (IFSPs).
Direct Access lets you self-refer for physical therapy. No prescription required.
