- What is Julie’s approach to care?
- Does my private health insurance cover sessions with Julie?
- Do I need a prescription?
- What can I expect from my evaluation session?
- What can I expect from my follow-up sessions?
- How long is each session?
- How frequently will I attend sessions and for how long?
- Can I bring my baby?
- What forms of payment do you accept?
- Does Julie give massages, manual therapy, ultrasound, etc?
what is Julie’s approach to care?
Julie uses movement and fitness as medicine. Her consultative approach has always been education and movement (brain and body) based care that you can independently carry over into your daily life and fitness. Her hands-off, external, and functional interventions are intended to build a therapeutic program that integrates central control and movement strategies into your function, movements and current fitness. Self-care, independence and application of the strategies and concepts into a regular, patient driven fitness without aches and pains, pelvic/abdominal health considerations, pregnancy/postpartum needs or return to fitness barriers is the ultimate goal of the program.
Please view the video blog series “The Fit Floor” 1-3 and read her blog “Fitness is the Path” to better understand Julie’s clinical approach.
Does my private health insurance cover sessions with Julie?
Julie Wiebe is a licensed Physical Therapist. However, please be aware that Julie is not an in-network provider for any insurance carrier. Her services can be submitted for reimbursement as an out-of-network physical therapy provider. Your percentage of reimbursement is dependent on your policy. Please check with your health insurance carrier to determine the details of your coverage before starting treatment.
Payment is required at the time of service. Julie will provide an invoice (superbill) at the end of each session that you can submit to your insurance or medical savings plan to seek out-of-network reimbursement. Some insurance carriers have a cap on how many dollars they will reimburse or sessions they will allow. You are responsible for understanding your coverage for out-of-network providers. Please discuss with Julie if there are changes in your benefits status, or if you do not have a private benefit carrier.
***Julie is not a certified Medicare or Medicaid provider. The law is very clear. Non-certified physical therapists may not see Medicare or Medicaid patients. Even during the Covid-19 crisis. ***
Do I need a prescription?
The short answer is YES! The long answer? Patients can directly access a Physical Therapists in California without a prescription (Rx) for the first 30-days of treatment only. However, because of the nature of Julie’s practice approach, 30-days goes fast. To spare an interruption in care, Julie is now requiring patients to get a prescription prior to the initial evaluation. In addition, some insurance companies (Anthem Blue Cross in particular) may still require a prescription in order to reimburse for the first 30-days of service, it is your responsibility to confirm the policies of your health insurance carrier. Just a reminder, Julie does not accept insurance but you can submit the provided invoice (superbill) to your insurance for an out-of-network provider. (Click here to download a prescription to take with you to the doctor or simply ask them to fax us a prescription with a diagnosis at (818) 332-4939).
What can I expect from my evaluation session?
This will be your opportunity to share your story and help fill in the rest of the picture painted by the information you provided pre-visit. Together, through collaborative conversation, we will connect the dots from your story, and the clues in your physical assessment with the issues you are experiencing. We will begin to build a plan that will include rebuilding central control, targeted exercises, new ideas, and movement and fitness strategies you can implement immediately. Please wear exercise gear or loose fitting clothing.
Please view the video blog series “The Fit Floor” 1-3 and read her blog “Fitness is the Path” to better understand Julie’s clinical approach.
what can i expect from my follow-up sessions?
Follow-ups are scheduled weekly, bi-weekly or monthly depending on how well you are progressing through the program, how much practice you need, and how soon you will be ready for an exercise progression. Each session builds on the information and exercises learned at the previous session. We will monitor and modify the program as we integrate new strategies into meaningful function, movement, and fitness. You will be given homework at each session for you to work on until your next session. Self-care, independence and application of concepts into a regular, patient driven fitness without aches and pains, pelvic/abdominal health issues or return to fitness barriers is the ultimate goal of the program. Follow-up appointments last 1-hour, unless an extended session is pre-scheduled.
How long is each session?
Evaluation and follow-up sessions are usually scheduled for 75-90 min, and 60 min respectively. If you are traveling at a distance to meet with Julie, limiting the frequency of visits, a pre-scheduled extended 2-hour session is recommended. If there are significant physical issues and complications extended sessions may also be recommended.
How frequently will I attend sessions and for how long?
Treatments are usually scheduled at weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly intervals. Each session builds on the previous session. How quickly you progress through the program depends on multiple factors, including your ability to pursue the homework on your own.
How long you will require care will be an ongoing conversation between you and Julie. Factors to be considered are the severity of your issues, your ability to be compliant with the exercises, and how well you can incorporate the information into your body. With good compliance, consistency with follow-ups and understanding of the materials most women require about 6-8 sessions, spread over 2-6 months.
Can I bring my baby?
Yes. However, coming to sessions solo is preferred, simply because you can concentrate and the whole session can be spent working through the program. This is understandably not always possible for various reasons (such as nursing) and your baby is always welcome! Please be aware that if you bring your baby we may have to curtail the amount of work we can do within the session, which may extend the number of sessions you require. Patients are often scheduled back to back and sessions will need to end on time in order to honor the time of the next patient. You are responsible for the safety of your baby while on the premises.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Payment is due at the end of each session. This can occur on site in the form of cash, check or credit card (American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Discover) or via the electronic medical record keeping portal you create when you fill out your intake forms. Julie Wiebe, PT is not an in-network provider for any insurance carrier, and does not provide direct billing to insurance carriers. You will be provided an invoice (superbill) at the end of each session that you may file with your insurance or medical savings plan for reimbursement. You are responsible for understanding your benefits for an out-of-network provider.
Does Julie give massages, manual therapy, ultrasound, etc?
No. Julie’s approach is education and exercise (brain and body) based care that will give you the understanding and tools to carry over into your daily life and fitness when she is not around. Her approach is to provide women with a fishing pole, rather than keep handing them fish. Self-care, independence and application of concepts into a regular, patient driven fitness program is the ultimate goal of the program.