Below you will find answers to some Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any other questions that are not answered on this page, feel free to e-mail us a question or call one of our offices.
Billing & Payment Info
Scheduling / Evaluation / Treatment
Getting Started
Q. Can treatment at Athens Therapeutics help my diagnosis?
A. In short... Yes. At Athens Therapeutics, we do not focus on the diagnosis or "label" when we are evaluating and treating a client. A diagnosis can be very helpful in the development of a rehabilitation program; however, we look at the "big picture". We will consider the "whole" body and the "whole" person when evaluating and treating a patient. Every client receives a thorough evaluation at the first session. During the initial evaluation we seek to identify all aspects of your symptoms including the structural/anatomical dysfunction; dietary and other physiological issues; stress and other lifestyle issues; and the functional limitations these symptoms have caused. By addressing the multiple facets of one's condition, we have successfully helped numerous clients improve their quality of life.
Q. What are some common conditions that you work with?
A. The clinicians at Athens Therapeutics treat clients with a wide variety of problems such as general aches & pains, neck & low back pain, joint stiffness & pain, post-operative orthopedic conditions (such as spinal surgery and joint replacement), repetitive stress injuries (including carpal tunnel syndrome), thoracic outlet syndrome, fibromyalgia, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, TMJ, chronic headaches & migraines, neurological conditions (including stroke, head-injuries, spinal cord injuries, ataxia, balance problems), facial paralysis (Bell's palsy & Ramsey-Hunt), vision problems, cardiac and respiratory problems, urinary tract problems (including incontinence), digestive disorders (including irritable bowel syndrome & gastroesophageal reflux), lymphedema, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and open wounds. We also treat numerous pediatric conditions including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, asthma, nocturnal enuresis (nighttime bed wetting), & many others.
Q. How long will it take until I feel better?
A. That question can be better answered after your initial evaluation. The length of therapy is dependent on the severity and chronicity of the dysfunction and your specific goals for rehabilitation.
Q. What do I need to do to start treatment?
A. The state of Georgia requires a written doctor's order for physical therapy (i.e.: a referral or a prescription) before therapy treatment can be started. Therapy must be started within 30 days of the date on the referral. Depending on the type of insurance policy you have, you may need a Primary Care Physicians (PCP) referral,(usually with HMO's).The referral can read something simple such as "physical therapy evaluation and treatment" and can include a diagnosis (e.g.: low back pain, fibromyalgia, headaches). If you wish, we have referral forms available that your physician can sign. You can stop by our office for one or have it faxed to you or your physician. Most local physicians are familiar with us and are willing to issue a referral if you request one. If they are not familiar with us and require more information before issuing a referral, feel free to direct them to this site or have them contact our office. Once you receive the referral, contact our office to set up your initial visit. We are able to do the initial evaluation without a referral but we do need to have a copy of the referral before we start any treatment.
Billing & Payment Info
Q. Will my medical insurance cover treatment at Athens Therapeutics?
A. Yes, physical therapy is a covered service under most insurance plans. As with any medical service, always call your insurance company to get your physical therapy benefits. As a courtesy, we will contact your insurance company to verify your insurance benefits before or shortly after starting therapy. Verifying coverage is not a guarantee of payment. Ultimately the patient is responsible for knowing their insurance benefits, (such as the coverage amount or if pre-certification is required), and the patient is responsible for any costs not covered or reimbursed by their insurance company.
Q. How does Athens Therapeutics bill for treatment?
A. You have the option of paying out of pocket then pursuing your own insurance reimbursement. However, most patients utilize our insurance billing services where we file the claims and collect the reimbursement. In this scenario, you are responsible only for any charges not covered by your medical insurance (co-pays, deductibles, etc.)
Q. Is the co-pay the same as my doctor's office visit?
A. It may or may not depending on your therapy benefits. Again, call your insurance before starting therapy to know what to expect as all insurance plans are different.
Q. What medical insurances plans does Athens Therapeutics accept?
A. We accept Medicare and Medicaid / Peachcare for children only. Medicaid does not cover adult physical therapy services. We are in-network providers for most Blue Cross Blue Shield plans; State Health Benefits (i.e.: State Merit, UGA insurance, teachers insurance, etc.); Beech Street; First Health and several others. We also accept Worker's Compensation. Unfortunately, we are not currently in network with Health Plan Select HMO but are working diligently to be accepted into their network. You can help facilitate this process by contacting Health Plan Select at 706.549.0549 and request our admission into their network.
Q. If Athens Therapeutics is not an in-network provider for my insurance, does that mean they will not cover any of the bill?
A. Not necessarily. Most medical insurances have out of network physical therapy benefits (especially PPO's, POS's, and Indemnity Plans). Some cover 60%, 70%, 80% or even the entire bill. Call your insurance company to get your physical therapy benefits.
Q. What if I have an HMO that you are not in network with?
A. Unfortunately most HMO plans do not offer out-of-network benefits for physical therapy. However, you can contact your insurance company and request that your treatment here be covered due to the specialized nature of the services we offer.
Q. If I am in an auto accident, will my auto insurance or health insurance cover therapy?
A. If your auto insurance has med-pay or medical coverage, it will be covered by your auto insurance before your medical insurance will provide coverage. Unfortunately, we do not accept or file auto insurance claims. Many patients involved in auto accident pay for treatment out of pocket then file for immediate reimbursement from their auto insurance.
Q. If I have an accident on the job, what do I need to do before starting therapy?
A. Physical therapy must first be ordered by a doctor, followed by approval through a case manager assigned by your employer or Work Comp provider. At that time, we will request a claim number and the case manager's name and telephone number in order to receive verbal or written approval.
Q. How are claims billed to insurance?
A. We file electronically to any carrier who receives electronic transmission. Otherwise we bill HCFA 1500 by mail.
Q. What methods of payment does Athens Therapeutics accept?
A. We accept cash, checks, Visa and MasterCard.
Scheduling / Evaluation / Treatment
Q. How do I schedule my first appointment?
A. If you already have a referral for physical therapy simply call our office and we will get you scheduled. In some cases, the referring physician's office will set up your first appointment with us or the referring physician will ask us to contact you to set up your first appointment.
Q. Who should I schedule with?
A. Unless you specifically request a certain therapist, the office staff will schedule your initial evaluation with one of our lead therapists. Often, the therapist who you schedule with for your initial evaluation will be your primary therapist. This person will oversee your course of treatment and will develop a treatment plan for your rehabilitation.
Q. What do I need to bring to my initial evaluation?
A. When you schedule your first appointment at Athens Therapeutics you will be sent a comprehensive packet of information that will include paperwork that you will need to complete. These forms are also available on this website on the forms page. You should bring this paperwork to your first appointment. In some circumstances, you may not receive this paperwork in advance (occasionally this is because there was not enough time between scheduling and the date of your evaluation). In this case, you want to arrive 30 minutes early to your first appointment so that you have the time to fill out this paperwork before your evaluation.
Q. How long are the initial evaluation and each treatment session?
A. The initial evaluation and each treatment session is one hour long at minimum. Longer sessions are available subject to medical insurance coverage.
Q. What happens during the initial evaluation?
A. Since we consider the "whole" body and the "whole" person, we perform a very thorough evaluation during the first visit. The evaluation will usually take the full hour and treatment will begin the second session (although treatment may begin during the first session in some cases). The evaluation is essentially three parts. The first part is a thorough conversation about your symptoms, the limitations they cause you, the history of this problem, any other medical history, and your goals for therapy. The second part is an objective evaluation of your posture, movement and function. The last part is an assessment with manual diagnostics (including myofascial mapping) where we identify areas of tissue restriction thorough a process of palpation (feeling with the hands).
Q. What happens after the initial evaluation?
A. After the initial evaluation, your clinical presentation and goals will be carefully considered to create a treatment plan. The treatment plan will address the multiple "layers" of your dysfunction. During your subsequent treatment sessions you will be seen by one of our team of therapists. These therapists will work together to help bring you to optimal functioning.
Q. What if I only want to see one therapist?
A. Our experience has shown that a client will benefit from a team approach, as therapists bring their own areas of expertise and insights to your recovery process. The therapists work together for maximum effectiveness and efficiency in a unified approach.
Q. What happens during treatment sessions?
A. During each treatment session you will be seen, one on one, by one of our skilled therapists. You will be assigned a therapist for that session based on where you are in your treatment plan. The session typically starts with your report on your symptoms and function since your last visit. The bulk of the session is spent with you lying comfortably on the treatment table while we perform our gentle manual therapy treatment. Each treatment is unique and builds on the previous treatments as prioritized in your treatment plan. As we advance through the treatment plan you should begin to notice improvements in your symptoms, movement and functioning. In some cases, treatment sessions may include exercise, movement therapy or other functional rehabilitation. Treatment sessions will also include education on exercise, nutrition, lifestyle and other self-help techniques.
Q. What is the procedure for scheduling future appointments?
A. We suggest scheduling your appointments in advance in order to meet your scheduling needs. Periodically, scheduling appointments may be difficult because of demand, but we will always strive to meet your needs.
Q. I am concerned my child may not be able to tolerate a long treatment session.
A. When treating a child, we often bring in a TV and VCR with movies for the child to choose from. We recommend that you bring any favorite videos, toys or books they may care for during the session.
Q. How can I learn more about IMT?
A. For more information on Integrative Manual Therapy, go to www.CenterIMT.com
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