State laws on physical therapy coverage, side by side
Unofficial source · confirm with the payer Rows marked unofficial come from a secondary source, not the statute itself.
By Javier Alvarez · Updated · 1 min read
3 rows: State law. Public policy, not the member's benefits.
Florida direct access
Florida Statutes s. 486.021, practice of physical therapy · Florida
| State law | A Florida physical therapist may implement a plan of treatment developed by the physical therapist for a patient, or provided by a practitioner of record or an APRN. [1] |
|---|---|
| Referral | If physical therapy is needed beyond 30 days for a condition not previously assessed by a practitioner of record, the PT must have a practitioner of record review and sign the plan. [1] |
| Also | The PT must refer the patient to or consult with a practitioner of record if the condition is outside the scope of physical therapy. The statute does not say what a health plan must pay. [1] |
- Florida Statutes s. 486.021, Physical Therapy Practice definitions (Florida Legislature), checked October 30, 2026
Ohio direct access
Ohio Revised Code s. 4755.481 · Ohio
| State law | An Ohio PT may evaluate and treat a patient without a prescription or referral. With the patient's consent, the PT must inform the relevant practitioner of the evaluation within five business days. [1] |
|---|---|
| Referral | If there is no substantial progress in the 30 days after the first visit, the PT must consult with or refer the patient to a practitioner. Exceptions apply for fitness, wellness or prevention, and for previously diagnosed chronic, neuromuscular or developmental conditions. [1] |
| Payment | The law says nothing in these sections requires reimbursement under a health insuring corporation policy, a sickness and accident policy, Medicaid, or the listed workers' compensation programs for PT rendered without a prescription or referral. [1] |
- Ohio Revised Code s. 4755.481, Treatment without prescription or referral (Ohio Laws), checked October 30, 2026
Texas direct access
Texas Occupations Code s. 453.301 · Texas
Unofficial source · confirm with the payer: some facts in this row come from a secondary source, not the payer.
| State law | A Texas PT may treat without a referral if licensed at least one year, covered by professional liability insurance, and holding a DPT or 30 hours of continuing competence in differential diagnosis. [1] Unofficial source · confirm with the payer |
|---|---|
| Visit limits | Treatment without a referral is limited to 10 consecutive business days, or 15 for a PT with a DPT who also completed a residency or fellowship or holds an approved certification. A referral is required to continue past that. [1] Unofficial source · confirm with the payer |
| Also | A PT who treats without a referral must get a signed disclosure in which the patient acknowledges that the patient's health insurance may not include coverage for the PT's services. [1] Unofficial source · confirm with the payer |
- Texas Occupations Code s. 453.301, as reproduced by Texas.Public.Law (statute text accessed May 2025) (secondary source), checked October 30, 2026
3 state laws side by side
These are state laws that bear on physical therapy: who must cover it, for whom, and on what terms. A state insurance law reaches the plans that state regulates; a self-funded employer plan is regulated federally, so check the member's plan type on the benefits call.
| State | Law | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Florida Statutes s. 486.021, practice of physical therapy | A Florida physical therapist may implement a plan of treatment developed by the physical therapist for a patient, or provided by a practitioner of record or an APRN. |
| Ohio | Ohio Revised Code s. 4755.481 | An Ohio PT may evaluate and treat a patient without a prescription or referral. With the patient's consent, the PT must inform the relevant practitioner of the evaluation within five business days. |
| Texas | Texas Occupations Code s. 453.301 | A Texas PT may treat without a referral if licensed at least one year, covered by professional liability insurance, and holding a DPT or 30 hours of continuing competence in differential diagnosis. (Unofficial source · confirm with the payer) |
Your state isn't here?
We only add a state when we could open a document that states the rule. Call the state's provider line or the member's plan, and ask which codes physical therapists can bill, whether prior authorization is needed and how many visits a year. The physical therapy table has every payer we checked.