Q: can a physical therapist assistant (PTA) work under a PM&R physician instead of a physical therapist?
this is in regards to physical therapy treatment.
A: For purposes of treatment under 4600 of the Labor Code, anybody can deliver physical therapy. A 'massage' therapist, a chiropractor, a medical 'assistant' at a clinic ,,, IF the patient accepts services from sub-standard untrained staffer and the clinic bills that out as physical therapy, the clinic gets paid and the worker gets one fewer of their total 24 therapy visits. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. Workers use up their 24 visits with sub-standard care and later when they need it, the insurance carrier is permitted to refuse it... so the smart injured worker only chooses therapy with a registered physical therapist at a recognized therapy facility and if they can't figure out how to get this, THE SMART WORKER GETS AN ATTORNEY.
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