Does Florida PIP Cover Physical Therapy After a Car Accident?
Yes — Florida Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers medically necessary physical therapy after a car accident, but only if the patient is first evaluated by a qualifying provider within 14 days of the crash. Here's what that means in practice.
Dr. Sam Rose, PT, DPT
Clinical Director, PT Near Me
The short answer
Florida PIP — Personal Injury Protection — is the no-fault coverage every Florida-registered vehicle is required to carry. It applies regardless of who caused the crash, and it covers physical therapy as long as two things are true: the patient was seen by a qualifying provider within 14 days of the accident, and the care is medically necessary for an injury sustained in that accident.
If either condition isn't met, PIP benefits for that crash are forfeited. This is why intake speed matters more in Florida than in most other states.
What the statute actually says
Florida Statute § 627.736 sets out the framework. The most-cited line is the 14-day rule:
“In order to be eligible for [PIP] benefits, an insured must receive initial services and care … within 14 days after the motor vehicle accident.”
The statute also distinguishes between an Emergency Medical Condition (EMC) and a non-emergency condition. Only an EMC unlocks the full $10,000 in PIP benefits — without it, the patient is capped at $2,500. An EMC determination must be made and documented by a physician, dentist, PA, or ARNP.
How PT is billed against PIP
Physical therapy delivered after a Florida auto accident is reimbursed under the same CPT codes used in outpatient clinics. Common examples on a post-MVA case:
| CPT Code | Service | Typical use after a crash |
|---|---|---|
| 97161 / 97162 / 97163 | PT evaluation (low / moderate / high complexity) | Initial in-home evaluation |
| 97110 | Therapeutic exercise | Strength and range-of-motion work |
| 97140 | Manual therapy | Soft-tissue work for cervical / lumbar pain |
| 97112 | Neuromuscular re-education | Balance, proprioception, post-concussive cases |
| 97530 | Therapeutic activities | Functional retraining for ADLs and return to work |
PIP reimburses 80% of reasonable and necessary medical expenses, subject to the statutory fee schedule. When the patient's auto policy includes MedPay, we bill MedPay as secondary.
When PIP runs out before treatment is complete
$10,000 sounds like a lot, but it doesn't always cover a full post-MVA care episode. ER imaging, an orthopedic consult, and a few weeks of PT can exhaust it before the patient reaches functional baseline. When that happens, we bill MedPay if the patient's auto policy includes it.
PT Near Me does not bill commercial health insurance. If PIP and MedPay are both exhausted before the plan of care is complete, we talk through options with the patient before continuing treatment — there is no surprise billing.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a chiropractor or physical therapist meet the 14-day initial-care requirement?
- The initial care must be from an MD, DO, dentist, PA, ARNP, or hospital — not from a chiropractor or physical therapist alone. PT can begin after that initial evaluation, as long as it's medically necessary and ordered or supported by a qualifying provider.
- Does PIP cover in-home physical therapy specifically?
- Yes. PIP doesn't restrict the site of service for PT — outpatient clinic, hospital outpatient department, or in-home are all reimbursable when the care is medically necessary and properly documented.
- What happens to the patient's PT if PIP is denied?
- If PIP is denied, we look first at MedPay on the patient's auto policy. PT Near Me does not bill commercial health insurance, so if neither PIP nor MedPay is available we will discuss options with the patient before continuing treatment.
Related articles
- Recovering After a Crash
How Soon Should You Start PT After a Car Accident in Florida?
In Florida, the practical answer is within 14 days — both because the PIP statute requires initial care in that window and because the clinical evidence strongly favors early intervention for soft-tissue and cervical-spine injuries.
Andre Bennett, PT, DPT · May 2, 2026
- Florida PIP & MedPay
The Florida 14-Day Rule: Why You Must Start Treatment Fast
Florida's 14-day rule says an injured driver, passenger, or pedestrian must receive initial medical care within 14 days of a crash, or PIP benefits are forfeited entirely. Here's exactly what counts, who can provide that care, and what happens if the window closes.
Dr. Sam Rose, PT, DPT · June 20, 2026
- Florida PIP & MedPay
HB 837: Florida's 2-Year Statute of Limitations, Explained
Florida House Bill 837, signed in March 2023, cut the statute of limitations for most personal-injury lawsuits from four years to two. If you were injured in a Florida car accident on or after March 24, 2023, you now have two years from the date of the crash to file suit — not four. That shorter clock makes timely medical care and documentation more important than it used to be.
Dr. Sam Rose, PT, DPT · June 22, 2026
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Conditions we treat across Florida
Each city page below covers the clinical evidence, recovery timelines, and PIP details specific to these conditions.
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