Direct Access Law has been Updated!
On September 1, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Texas' new Direct Access bill, HB 4099 which expanded upon the previous HB 29 from 2019. This updated and revised bill has expanded direct access for physical therapy, which means that you now can visit a physical therapist for treatment for up to 30 calendar days without a physician's referral.
The updated law removes the previous barrier that only allowed physical therapists to evaluate, but not treat without a referral or doctor's order. Now, you can go directly to a physical therapist to get the care you need without the long wait times and unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses at a doctor's office just to get a referral for PT. According to a study by Health Services Research, total health care costs for patients who had early access to physical therapy were less than half the total costs paid by those who waited three months to a year to visit a PT.
Many conditions are successfully treated by hands-on treatment and individualized exercise programs provided by your physical therapist. Painful and expensive surgeries can be put off and sometimes even eradicated altogether. Plus, physical therapy has been known to reduce and sometimes even eliminate the need for dangerously addictive painkillers. Physical therapists are also highly trained in identifying conditions that might need further evaluation or medical treatment and can include primary care physicians when needed.
Direct Access to Texas Physical Therapists provides many benefits, including but not limited to:
- Faster access to the treatment you need and deserve
- Cost savings - while each patient is different, research shows that Direct Access typically saves you money
- Thorough evaluation - Sessions last one hour so your condition is thoroughly evaluated
- Fewer overall treatment sessions - in many cases, seeing a physical therapist first, will result in fewer overall treatment sessions
There are also guidelines and restrictions* for direct access to physical therapy in Texas, which include:
- Treatment without a referral can only be done for up to 30 calendar days for a physical therapist with a doctoral degree in physical therapy.
- Before treatment can exceed the authorized number of days, a referral must be obtained from a qualified healthcare practitioner.
Please note: some insurances may not pay for direct access/self referral and are subject to private pay rates.
For more information, click here.
