So when establishing your rates look at the going rate for personal training in your community. Use that as your baseline for post rehab services. I recommend your post rehab fee should be a minimum of 20% above the going rate for personal training.  The 20% margin is due to the complex nature of the post rehab client and the communication you must have with medical professionals to effective manage the client's exercise program. That requires time and skill. Now notice I said a minimum of 20% above the personal training rate. You can charge more but 20% is the minimum I recommend. If you feel your services are worth more…then charge more. Don't base your rates on everyone else!

That leads us to "how much do I charge for the post rehab assessment?". Well that's even easier. Charge 50% above the going rate for a personal training assessment. Why 50%? The post rehab assessment is where you demonstrate your professionalism, skill and experience. The assessment is the key in the whole post rehab program. The more skill you have, the better the client outcome will be. The real post rehab skill isn't in the training, the important skill is in the assessment. A good assessment produces a good program and client outcome. The assessment requires the write up of a report as well as communication with medical professionals. This warrants the 50% margin.

NEVER GIVE AWAY AN ASSESSMENT FOR FREE!! It diminished your professionalism. Give away a free screening but not your full assessment. The assessment is what makes you a POST REHAB PROFESSIONAL!! No one else will assess the post rehab client better than you. Notice I said the post rehab client. Not the physical therapy patient or the surgical patient. Those assessments are best performed by the physical therapist or surgeon. You are the best professional to assess and manage the post rehab client and his exercise program.

The post rehab client requires more skill and knowledge on the part of the post rehab professional. The post rehab client also requires your communication with medical professionals and maybe an insurance carrier. The fees I noted above take these components into account. Don't be bashful about your fees but be able to back up your fees with excellent professional service and positive client outcomes. If you cant produce those two….your clients will definitely let you know.

Dr Mike

The key for post rehab professionals is understanding the insurance reimbursement maze and being able to identify the client scenario that offers the best chance for reimbursement. There is an “ideal post rehab scenario” that is usually reimbursed to some degree by the insurance carrier. We have titled this the “Post Rehab Insurance Reimbursement Criteria”. It is as follows:

1) The client must have insurance coverage through a workman’s compensation, motor vehicle accident claim or have a third party insurance carrier such as Blue Cross/Shield, ATENA or Connecticut General (these are just examples) .

2) The client must have sustained a traumatic injury and/or underwent surgery. Example of this would be a client with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the knee or a disc herniation in the lumbar spine either of which has surgery to correct the injury. These clients need long-term supervised exercise after the completion of physical therapy or chiropractic care is done.

3) The client must have residual functional deficits that are present after the client has completed physical therapy and/or chiropractic care. At some point the client no longer needs PT or chiropractic but there are still functional deficits that impair the client’s function. These include functional limits in ROM/flexibility, strength, power, endurance, balance, proprioception, joint stability, muscle recruitment and coordination. The post rehab exercise program addresses these deficits after discharge from physical therapy.

4) The client has a signed referral from his or her physician or physical therapist requesting a supervised functional conditioning program.

5) The client has received the maximum benefit from physical therapy and chiropractic care. The client has been through a course of physical therapy and/or chiropractic and reached the maximum level of function with these services and now is discharged. The client must be seen by a licensed medical professional prior to referral for post rehab services. This ensures the proper care and treatment are delivered in the acute and subacute stages following the injury.

The process of insurance reimbursement for post rehab services is more complicated then simply holding a post rehab certification such as the “Medical Exercise Specialist”. I must admit we never thought we would see MES’ or PRCS’ receiving insurance reimbursement. Your best chances for reimbursement are far greater when working with clients that meet criteria. As you can see, the post rehab reimbursement criteria encompasses a wide range of clients. Medicare and Medicaid will not reimburse for post rehab services.

Click the link below and listen to my explanation of the post rehab criteria. We also have an audio-based workshop titled “Insurance Reimbursement for the Post Rehab Professional” that discusses the process and procedures for securing insurance reimbursement. The course takes you step by step through the insurance reimbursement process. For more information visit www.postrehabinsurancereimbursement.com.

Dr Mike

Dr Mike

1. Define
2. Present
3. Report
4. Follow-Up
5. Assess
6. Progress
7. Motivate
8. Educate

PRPs define their scope of practice and role in a clear and concise statement in their brochures, marketing materials and presentations. Defining your scope of practice and clearly outlining your menu of services allows you to position yourself as the expert in the rehab spectrum, rather than relying on someone else who lacks a true understanding of your background and education. This could result in an inaccurate definition that will negatively impact the destiny of your practice. Providing a definition of post rehab fitness will further reinforce your scope of practice and prevent any misunderstanding or misconceptions regarding your role as a PRP.

To read more about the 8 Habits, please click the image below to download the podcast and full version of this posting.

1. Medical Referrals

2. Insurance Billing

3. Dynamic Back School

4. Women’s Fitness 101

5. Balance Assessment/Senior Fitness Classes

6. Hypertension/Diabetes Training

7. Ergonomics and Job Site Analysis

8. Pilates Training

9. Massage Therapy

10. Sports Conditioning

11. Volunteer in Sportsmed/Chiropractic Clinic

12. Body Fat Assessments

13. Presentations to Local Support and Civic Groups

14. Phone and/or Online Fitness Coaching

15. Development of DVD’s, Fitness Products or Publishing