Athletico Physical Therapy – Logan Square

I can’t wait for the class-​action lawsuit…
When I found myself needing physical therapy, I ended up heading to a place that could accommodate my busy schedule. An hour before work, a couple of days a week — not a big deal. I had done physical therapy before, elsewhere, so I knew it could get pretty expensive if you haven’t met your deductible, but I just had no idea what I was in for at Athletico.
My PT was fine. He was honest, stern, and had decent evals. The exercises seemed alright, the few minutes of massage on my wrecked shoulder were alright. I was told to wait until moving forward with an MRI, so I put it off at my PT’s discretion. After a month+ of PT without any real understanding of purpose or goal — each week being told «let’s see how you feel next week and then determine if you should go forward with the MRI/​arthrogram» — I finally went ahead with the MRI, because I needed answers. The findings were as expected — so at least my PT had some understanding of the injury — but then the bills started rolling in.
…My PT had been billing somewhere between $ 450 and $ 600 for each appointment…
I have a PPO and Athletico is in my network, but of course I haven’t met my high deductible. I ended up responsible for the insurance-​discounted prices of several hundred dollars per appointment. I knew I’d end up responsible for a portion after my insurance deduction, but I never imagined that my PT had been billing half-​a-​grand per hour long session. My MRI/​arthrogram billed LESS — and I assure you, MRIs and athrograms are REAL, intense procedures. Worth every penny, can’t be learned in front of youtube like most stretchy-​band exercises.
How does this company allow their PTs to bill $ 70, $ 80, $ 90 per band exercise demonstrated? Or per 5 minute massage? Shouldn’t they bill roughly that amount for the ENTIRE session/​hour? Especially considering that they double-​book and work on multiple patients at the same time. This company is a cash cow, completely designed to screw patients. When you stop crying and collecting bills and call them, they say «Well, medical stuff is expensive!!!» then shrug you off before offering a payment plan. This doesn’t make sense, seeing as how my scans and specialist appointment bills will TOTAL only a few hundred dollars — whereas my PT bills now total a few grand.
Please stay away from this company. Even if the scheduling is tricky elsewhere, try to get to a PT that will be VERY, VERY up front with how they’re going to charge you. Maybe a small business/​unaffiliated. Because getting charged almost a hundred dollars per tiny, distracted activity? Hugely disappointing, an unimaginable rip-​off.