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Is a physician referral required?
Physiotherapists are primary health care professionals so you do not require a doctor’s referral to see one. In fact, most Canadians connect with local physiotherapists by direct access for health services.
In the hospital and for acute care situations, a consultation with a physiotherapist may originate with a physician or other member of your health care team.
Some extended health insurance plans may require a physician’s referral in order to reimburse you for physiotherapist services.
Physiotherapists continue to advocate for your direct access to physiotherapy services throughout the Canadian health care system. Direct access to physiotherapy eliminates unnecessary referral, saves patients valuable time, improves patient health outcomes, and saves the health care system money by reducing extra billing for health professional visits that could otherwise have been avoided. 1
Information for employers on direct access to physiotherapy