Question

In the state of California, PTs can treat patients without an MD referral for: ?

1) 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first
2) 30 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first
3) 45 days or 10 visits, whichever comes first
4) 30 days or 10 visits, whichever comes first

Answer 1

In the state of California, PTs can treat patients without an MD referral for 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first (option 1).

Step-by-step explanation:

In California, physical therapists (PTs) have the authority to treat patients without a physician's referral under certain conditions. The correct option is 1) 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first. This means that a patient can receive physical therapy services directly from a PT for up to 45 days or 12 visits, depending on which limit is reached first, without requiring a physician's referral. This regulation allows for timely access to physical therapy services, particularly for conditions where immediate intervention is beneficial.

Therefore, the answer is 1) 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first, reflecting the specific duration and visit limit for direct access to physical therapy services in California.