Frequently Asked Questions About Physical Therapy

IPT is made of two distinct practices. 

Centerline Physical Therapy - In-Network

Integrated Physical Therapy - Out-of-Network

Centerline PT does accept most major insurances and we will help you with verification and authorization. Please know it is ultimately your responsibility to manage your insurance company and your benefits. Please be aware that your insurance company may only cover a portion of your service. You will be responsible for the difference. Be your own advocate and allow us to help guide you.

Integrated PT is an out of network provider. There is a fee for the service provided. Why? We would not be able to provide the high level of care and individualized treatment that we do at the low rates insurance companies are currently willing to pay for physical therapy treatment. By creating a personalized program that includes skilled manual therapy techniques and corrective exercises that will result in faster recovery time and improved outcomes, you will have a more personal and private experience in this setting. 

For physical therapy we will show you how to print claims forms so all you need to do is put it in the mail! You may be able to find out in advance what the details of your insurance plan are if you call your insurance company and ask about your “out of network” benefits.

Yes we do accept Medicare. Please have your birth date and Medicare number and supplemental insurance information ready when you call to make your first appointment, so we can check your benefits for you. Be aware of the changes and updates to Medicare. There are limitations to being seen in an outpatient facility and please ask our office to explain these updates and changes to you

Centerline PT - In - Network Visits

Depending on your insurance, your cost/co-pay/co-insurance/out of pocket will vary. Please have this conversation with our front desk before you arrive, so there are no surprises. An initial evaluation is one hour of comprehensive evaluation and treatment. This is a full hour of one on one attention from your physical therapist!

Integrated PT - Out-of-Network Visits: 

• $200.00 per visit with Craig Cohen
• $175.00 per visit with Tara Carrington
• $150.00 per visit with Luan Menda, Brittany Inerfeld, Christian Drummond, 
• $110 – Private Manual Plates Rehabilitation
• $90 – Private Fitness Pilates
• $90/$120 – Massage Therapy

If the issues you’re facing are more complex or you just want more time, we offer 1-2 hour immersions.

Treatments are one hour long. This includes discussion, myofascial release and whatever other skilled treatment is indicated to help you reach your desired goals as well as exercise and/or progression of the home program. It would be beneficial to come about 5 minutes early to get yourself settled in your room. In our office you also will not need to worry about signing in and waiting. Your appointment time is yours and is specifically set aside for you to have a full hour with the therapist at the time you requested.

On your first visit make sure to bring your insurance card and drivers’ license so we can make a copy of it. Also please bring your prescription for physical therapy if you have one. Florida state law mandates that a prescription from an MD or DO be on file within the first 30 days of treatment. If you want to fill out the paperwork early and bring it with you, it is on our website (click here). Clothing is loose fitting and gym attire is preferred (shorts, t-shirt etc)

Because myofascial release should ideally be done on skin, it is preferred that you are comfortably undressed. A tank top and shorts are fine, while some people wear bathing suits. It all depends on how you will be comfortable, and may evolve with time. Please limit jewelry and no skin lotions.

Here at IPT we have a “team policy.” This means we will help you schedule your appointments at times that are convenient for you and at the recommended interval. We have 5 therapists currently, and we want you to meet all of them and see how each therapist has their own special way of treating you! Although all therapists are highly trained in the consistent approach, each have their own unique style and we, as well as our colleague’s, MFR therapists around the country, have found that seeing more than one therapist will mean you progress faster. That said, if you prefer to see one therapist, just tell the front desk staff and they will make it happen for you.

Everyone has a different diagnosis and will respond to treatment individually. There is no magic number of treatments. Also, age is not an issue, you are never too young or old to experience the benefits of MFR and the therapies we offer. That being said, in most instances you should be starting to see and feel progress towards your goals by the sixth visit at the latest. At your first visit the physical therapist will recommend how often you should come in order for you to meet your specific goals. Coming more often usually results in faster progress. Treatments are spaced further apart once you are maintaining and feeling a lot better.

We accept cash, check and all major credit cards.

Since your appointment time is a whole hour set aside specifically for you, we request that all patients extend a courteous 24-hour cancellation notice to change or cancel any appointment. If less than 24 hours’ notice is given, the full session fee will apply in a discretionary fashion.

Your appointment time is reserved for you, so you do not sign in and you do not wait for it to be your turn. If you are late you will have less time to be treated by the therapist because there is another person with a reserved appointment after you. If you do think you will be a little late, please call us and let us know.

North Miami Location - https://www.iptmiami.com/contact-us/north-miami-location

Hallandale Location - https://www.iptmiami.com/contact-us/hallandale-beach-location

No, not necessarily.

In Florida, it is legal to be evaluated and treated by a physical therapist WITHOUT a prescription for the first 30 days, or 10 visits, whichever comes first. You will need one thereafter though. KEEP IN MIND, YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY MAY REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE ONE PRIOR TO BEGINGN YOUR THERAPY. If submitting for insurance reimbursement on your own, it is wise to have a prescription from the beginning of treatment, since they often request it. After the initial visit, our office will mail/e-mail or fax a typed copy of your evaluation to the doctor whom you specify, and that usually encourages them to write a script saying “Physical Therapy. Evaluate and Treat” or whatever else they choose to write o

Fascia (also called connective tissue) holds us all together and has been virtually ignored in the past. Fascia is a multidimensional web-like tissue that extends throughout the body. It is composed of two types of fibers:

A) Collagenous fibers, which are very tough and have little stretchability B) Elastic fibers, which are stretchable. Fascia is not muscle, but muscle is comprised of approximately 80% fascia. From the functional point of view, the body fascia may be regarded as a continuous three dimensional web of connective tissue that extends without interruption from the top of the head to the tip of the toes. It surrounds and invades every other tissue and organ of the body, including nerves, vessels, muscle and bone. It has been estimated that fascia has a tensile strength of as much as 2000 pounds per square inch.

The fascial system is made up of microtubules and marries all the other structures of the body, such as veins, nerves, other body systems (lymphatic system, endocrine system, etc.). It does not just exist in one place. It penetrates every cell from the brain to skin. Restrictions or adhesions affect the fascial system by binding it down, causing thickening, hardening and increased pressure. This may result in pain and other symptoms anywhere in the body. Working with the fascial system requires much experience and an extremely sensitive touch.

John F. Barnes Myofascial Release, (JFB-MFR) is a full body, hands on technique that releases the fascial system. The myofascial release approach is an intensive, generally mild and gentle form of stretching performed by qualified therapists who have been highly trained. These techniques have profound effects upon the body tissues. Because of its gentleness, many individuals wonder how it could possibly work. Because the facial system is interconnected, symptoms may appear in areas of the body one might assume are unrelated to the actual restricted area. Myofascial restrictions do not show up on any of the standard tests (x- rays, CAT scans, MRI’s etc.) so these myofascial restrictions have been ignored or misdiagnosed.

For example; when scars harden in one area following injury, inflammation, disease, surgery, etc. it can put tension on adjacent pain-sensitive structures as well as on structures in far-away areas. Some patients have b pain symptoms that appear to be unrelated to the original or primary complaint. These symptoms can now often be understood in relationship to our understanding the fascial system. Effective MFR treatment involves various techniques that are frequently applied to several different areas of the body. This is, therefore, a whole body approach to evaluation and treatment. The therapist needs to use “skin on skin” contact to provide the friction interface needed to release the fascia effectively. Release of these fascial restrictions includes specific specialized manual techniques of holding the tissue for a minimum 90 –120 seconds allowing for mechanical and biomechanical reaction to begin. Full release of the restriction may take five minutes or longer. Successive releases, through each layer, also require this time element. Our approach is successful because we treat a system in the body that no one else treats, the fascial system. JFB-MFR has been developing and refining MFR over the past 40 years to make this approach the most advanced and effective hands-on care available, particularly for patients who have not responded to traditional medical or surgical interventions Once the fascial system is addressed, these same patients begin to make progress in a matter of weeks with intensive MFR treatments and are on their way to a pain free, active lifestyle.

Through (1) trauma, (2) repetitive motion or (3) poor postures over time (sitting all day), (4) surgery, and scar tissue - restrictions can form in the fascial system. These restrictions can exert force of up to 2000 pounds per square inch on the body’s sensitive tissues and organs. This force can literally crush any of the vital structures that are near it. Since the fascial system runs throughout your entire body, these restrictions can cause pain anywhere in the body and compromise any system. By system I mean, vascular, neurologic, muscular, circulatory, digestive, etc. Fascial restrictions can cause digestive problems, fertility problems, circulation problems, neurological problems, etc. These restrictions can become tighter over time, literally making you feel like you are in a strait jacket and sending symptoms throughout your body.

When the cause of these symptoms, myofascial restriction, is left untreated, these symptoms often progress to the point of some type of chronic pain syndrome. In some patients, blood vessels and nerve roots can become caught which creates entrapment syndromes and ischemic like conditions.

Excessive pressure such as this can explain why some symptoms develop. Conventional treatment methods do not affect the myofascial system and at best produce only temporary symptomatic changes. MFR is a structural approach that treats the cause of the problems not just the symptoms and this is what produces long lasting results.

MFR at Integrated Physical Therapy is not forceful. It is a whole body approach tailored to each individual. The body is allowed to release, not forced to release. This does not mean that the releases will not be painful. Many times during a release pain and/or many other sensations will be felt. This is described as your fascial voice. IPT MFR treatments are minimum one hour with your therapist working with you, one on one, on your body’s restrictions. Some traditional settings feel like a production line, and are not very private. IPT MFR is all encompassing ie.: mind, body and spirit. The fascial system stores memory from physical, mental, and emotional traumas.

In traditional therapy, scheduled time with each patient is dictated by the insurance carriers. Individual treatment is not the norm and it is not uncommon to have three or four patients per hour per therapist and most times you are performing your exercise program independently. Modalities have their purpose but should remain an adjunct to the therapy process to enhance healing, not become the therapy process. In traditional physical therapy settings there is sometimes overuse of modalities like ultrasound and electrical stimulation which have no effect on the cause of the symptoms which is actually ischemic pressure from myofascial restrictions.

IPT myofascial release is a whole body approach to treating the cause of the symptoms not just palliative treating symptoms. MFR has long lasting often permanent effects on the body with self-treatment practice daily. The decrease in pain and increase in movement and flexibility restores your bodies balance and energy leaving you feeling restored and ready to live an active life.

Each person will heal and progress as individuals. Some patients have relief after their first treatment and others do not. This is highly individual based on diagnosis, chronicity of symptoms, motivation to heal, personal belief system of health and healing, and cultural beliefs can all effect outcomes. Rome was not built in one day and it was not destroyed overnight. Similarly chronic health problems will not turn around overnight.

The good news is that with MFR you can get permanent results.

Usually you will feel great after your myofascial release sessions, especially early on in treatment. But, there may be times when your body will respond to treatment with soreness. Once the fascial system has been affected, increased circulation enters the area through blood flow, carrying oxygen and nutrients critical to the healing process, as well as pushing out the stagnated blood and build-up of lactic acid. Remember our bodies are fluid filled and require movement of fluid in our systems to function in harmony, and maintain homeostasis. Tell the therapist about sore areas because this is valuable information. It tells us where your restrictions are, and where else your body needs treatment. We encourage all of our patients to drink more water, especially after treatments, to help your body flush out the toxins that have been build up in your system over time. This will also help prevent any soreness.

This is what we refer to as a “healing crisis”. It can happen because your awareness has increased and you actually feel how much pain is really there. Most of us have tuned our pain out, and now you are fully feeling it. This increase in signs and symptoms is your body’s way of bringing your awareness into what you are dealing with every day, but you “tune out” and don’t allow yourself to feel. Another reason is that you are getting into the deeper layers of the restrictions. The deeper you go into the restrictions, the closer you get to sensitive areas and as you go into the deeper layers the symptoms intensify and emotions may surface. There will be ups and downs which is normal. The body is not linear. Always remember JFB-MFR is not injurious.

Using self-treatment techniques that your therapist taught you will help you through this process. A regular self-treatment program combined with your therapy session of MFR will help speed your healing process. Spending quiet time bringing awareness into your body will help you get in touch with what lies beneath the layers. Give your body permission to let go of anything that is no longer serving you, and give yourself permission to do and feel whatever you need in order to heal. The post treatment soreness gives the patient and therapist valuable information about where the restrictions are located. So make a note of what you feel and communicate it to your therapist to enhance your treatment experience, speed your results and feel better faster.

Myofascial restrictions can create the symptoms of every diagnosis there is. At times well-meaning clinicians and patients, get caught up in the ”diagnosis”. Remember most diagnosis are just naming of symptoms. It is a label placed on a person’s dysfunction. When you focus on a diagnosis and not the whole body you limit your results. The answer to the question, “Can MFR help with every diagnosis?” Well of course it can. Can it cure every diagnosis? No it cannot. As MFR therapists we learn that freeing up the body from restrictions will allow the body to function more efficiently, and many times correct itself. Not only will this help for acute trauma but also systemic, neural or chronic conditions. JFB-MFR will help peel back and free up not only the physical system restrictions but the emotions that are holding the straight jacket in place.

Yes. You will be given an appropriate individualized self-treatment and home exercise program. Your evaluating therapist will make the decision initially regarding what will benefit you best to begin your healing journey. Then as you progress your home program may change or be expanded upon to meet your current needs.

We encourage you to share changes you have observed in your function between treatments at the beginning of each session. Then to benefit from the MFR process we encourage you to quiet your mind and relax your body so authentic healing can occur.

No. What you are experiencing is what is referred to as a “healing crisis”. It can happen because your awareness has increased and you actually feel how much pain is really there. Most of us have tuned our pain out, and now you are fully feeling it. This increase in signs and symptoms is your body’s way of bringing your awareness into what you are dealing with every day, but you “tune out” and don’t allow yourself to feel. Another reason is that you are getting into the deeper layers of the restrictions. The deeper you go into the restrictions, the closer you get to sensitive areas and as you go into the deeper layers the symptoms intensify and emotions may surface. There will be ups and downs which is normal. The body is not linear. Always remember JFB-MFR is not injurious.

Using self-treatment techniques that your therapist taught you will help you through this process. A regular self-treatment program combined with your therapy session of MFR will help speed your healing process. Spending quiet time bringing awareness into your body will help you get in touch with what lies beneath the layers. Give your body permission to let go of anything that is no longer serving you, and give yourself permission to do and feel whatever you need in order to heal.

The post treatment soreness gives the patient and therapist valuable information about where the restrictions are located. So make a note of what you feel and communicate it to your therapist to enhance your treatment experience, speed your results and feel better faster.

This is the monthly amount you pay for coverage. The lower it is, the higher your deductible will typically be. Plans with low premiums and high deductibles often are called “catastrophic” plans. Conversely, higher premium plans often feature lower deductibles, copays, and coinsurances.

This is the total amount you must pay each year before your insurance begins to pay. For example, if your deductible is $4,000, then you must pay $4,000 toward deductible-applicable services before your insurance will pay anything. If your deductible applies to PT services, then you may have to pay per visit until you meet your deductible. Once you reach your deductible, your copay or coinsurance will apply.

High copays are another common drawback to low-premium plans. Remember, the copay applies even after you have met your deductible, and the copay for specialist visits—including PT visits—can be as high as $80-$100. So, if you anticipate a lot of office visits during this plan year, you will want to factor the copay into your decision process.

As previously noted in this document, coinsurance is another version of cost-sharing. So, you will likely have to pay either a coinsurance or a copay. However, while copays are fixed amounts—and thus, are more predictable—coinsurances are percentages. Therefore, your financial responsibility varies based on how much your provider charges for the services rendered.

Some insurance plans (e.g., PPOs, HMOs, and EPOs) are limited to a certain network of providers. So, make sure you have a good selection of covered providers and facilities in your area. If you travel frequently or live in a rural area, you may want to choose a plan that has no network restrictions.

If your insurance plan requires you to obtain a referral before seeing a specialist (e.g., a physical therapist), and you fail to do so, the insurance company may (more than likely, will) deny coverage for services rendered. So, if you do not want to go through a primary care provider (e.g., your family physician) each time you want to see a specialist, make sure your plan does not require a referral (a.k.a. prescription) for specialist services.

Some plans place a limit on the number of covered visits per year (e.g., 20 visits), while others allow for unlimited visits. If you are athletic, have chronic joint pain, or anticipate needing a joint replacement in the near future, you may not want any restrictions on the number of rehabilitative visits allowed.

Medicare only pays 80% of the cost of care, so many Medicare beneficiaries seek secondary insurances to pay the other 20%. However, even those plans often feature deductibles, copays, coinsurances, or visit limitations. Thus, we recommend posing all of the above-listed questions to any secondary insurances you are considering.

Yes! Please contact us and we will go over the details and pricing with you.