Resources & Guides

Resources for Physical Therapy & Small Practice Owners

Welcome to the Proactive Chart resource center. We’ve created comprehensive, research-backed guides to help you make informed decisions about your practice management software, grow your business, and stay compliant with ever-changing healthcare regulations.

Browse our articles below, organized by topic area:

Medicare Plan of Care (POC) Certification Requirements for Physical Therapy 2025: What Changed and Why It Matters

November 21, 2025

CMS eliminated the physician signature requirement for initial POC certification effective January 2025. Learn the new Medicare POC rules, what still requires signatures, and how to stay compliant.

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EMR Interoperability Requirements for PT Practices 2025: What You Need to Know

November 19, 2025

Complete guide to 2025 EMR interoperability requirements: 21st Century Cures Act compliance, FHIR standards, information blocking penalties up to $1M, and what PT practices must know.

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New Caregiver Training CPT Codes for Physical Therapy 2025: Bill Without the Patient Present

November 19, 2025

Discover the new caregiver training codes (97550, 97551, G0541-G0543) that let PTs bill for training family members WITHOUT the patient present. A significant new revenue opportunity for 2025.

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PTA Supervision Requirements 2025: Medicare's Shift to General Supervision

November 19, 2025

CMS finalized major 2025 rule change allowing PTAs to work under general supervision in private practice. Learn implementation strategies, compliance requirements, and operational benefits.

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Understanding the KX Modifier and Therapy Thresholds (2025)

November 18, 2025

Complete 2025 guide to Medicare KX modifier: $2,410 threshold, soft cap vs hard stop, defensible documentation templates, and TPE audit avoidance strategies for physical therapy.

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Electronic Prescribing (eRx) for Small Practices: 2025 Complete Guide

November 16, 2025

Everything small practices need to know about electronic prescribing and EPCS. Learn about state mandates, setup fees, integration options, and how to choose eRx software.

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Best EMR for Pediatric Physical Therapy: Essential Features for 2025

November 15, 2025

Discover specialized EMR features for pediatric PT including GMFM, PEDI, developmental milestone tracking, and family-centered documentation tools.

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How to Switch EMR Systems Without Losing Data: A Complete 2025 Guide

November 14, 2025

Step-by-step guide to switching EMR systems safely. Learn the 5-phase migration roadmap, data preservation strategies, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

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Credit Card Processing for Medical Practices: Avoiding Hidden Fees and VCC Traps

November 8, 2025

Protect your practice from losing 5% of insurance payments to Virtual Credit Card fees. Learn about transparent pricing models, how to opt out of VCCs, and choose the right payment processor.

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How to Start a Cash-Based Physical Therapy Practice in 2025: A Complete Checklist

November 8, 2025

Step-by-step guide to starting a profitable cash-based PT practice. Learn about LLC formation, NPI requirements, pricing strategies, and lean tech stacks.

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Physical Therapy CPT Codes 2025: Essential Guide

November 6, 2025

Complete 2025 guide to PT CPT codes, Medicare reimbursement rates, and the 2.83% conversion factor reduction. Learn to optimize billing with 97110 vs 97530 strategies.

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Medical Billing Software for Small Practices: Achieve 98%+ Clean Claim Rates

November 5, 2025

Simple medical billing software with clearinghouse integration, automated claim scrubbing, and ERA posting. DIY billing simplified for small PT practices.

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The Ultimate Guide to Physical Therapy Billing and Revenue Cycle Management (RCM)

November 3, 2025

Master PT billing with this comprehensive guide. Learn the claim lifecycle, denial management strategies, clean claim best practices, and how to improve collections from 95% to 99%.

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Improving Patient Retention in Small Clinics: Proven Strategies to Increase Completion Rates

November 2, 2025

Boost patient retention from 55% to 80%+ with evidence-based strategies. Learn about service recovery, automated recall systems, and techniques that improve course of care completion in PT clinics.

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Pelvic Floor Therapy Software: Trauma-Informed Templates & Privacy Features

October 30, 2025

Specialized EMR features for pelvic health PT including trauma-informed documentation, internal exam templates, prolapse grading, and enhanced privacy controls.

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Integrated Home Exercise Programs (HEP): Seamless Workflow vs. Separate Logins

October 28, 2025

Why integrated HEP software improves patient compliance over standalone solutions. Compare drag-and-drop builders, email/portal delivery, and MedBridge alternatives.

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Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) Codes for PTs

October 25, 2025

Complete 2025 guide to RTM billing for physical therapy: CPT codes 98975, 98977, 98980 breakdown, ~$50/patient/month revenue potential, 16-day data requirement, and compliance rules.

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Physical Therapy Scheduling Software & Self-Booking: Reduce Phone Volume by 40%

October 13, 2025

Modern patients expect online self-scheduling for PT appointments. Learn how self-booking reduces front desk calls while supporting complex scheduling rules.

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Automated Waitlist Management: Filling Cancellations Instantly and Recovering Lost Revenue

October 10, 2025

Discover how automated waitlist systems can recover $10,000+ annually by filling canceled appointments within minutes. Learn first-to-reply workflows, revenue calculations, and implementation strategies.

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Solo Practitioner EMR: Why You Don't Need 'Enterprise' Bloat in 2025

October 10, 2025

Best EMR for solo practitioners and single-provider practices. Learn why enterprise features waste money and how to find affordable, focused practice management software.

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DrChrono Alternatives for Medical & Rehab Practices (2025 Edition)

October 6, 2025

Frustrated with DrChrono's frequent downtime, iPad-only focus, and quote-based pricing? Discover device-agnostic alternatives with transparent pricing and better reliability.

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Top 7 Affordable EMRs for Physical Therapy Startups (No Setup Fees - 2025)

October 5, 2025

Compare the most affordable PT EMR software under $100/month with no setup fees. Perfect for solo practitioners and small practices starting or growing their business.

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15 Marketing Ideas for Small Physical Therapy Practices in 2025

October 4, 2025

Proven digital-first marketing strategies to attract more PT patients. Learn about Google reviews, local SEO, physician outreach, and automated patient engagement that drive growth.

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Navigating MIPS 2025: A Guide for Small Physical Therapy Practices

October 1, 2025

Complete 2025 MIPS guide for small PT practices: 75-point threshold, low volume exemptions, quality measures, and MVP transition strategies. Learn if you're required to participate.

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PTA/OTA Modifier Changes: CQ and CO Modifiers Explained

October 1, 2025

Complete guide to PTA/OTA billing: CQ/CO modifiers, 85% reimbursement, 10% de minimis rule, supervision requirements, and cost-benefit analysis of assistant staffing in 2025.

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Prompt EMR Alternatives: Usability and Support Comparison (2025)

September 29, 2025

Prompt EMR offers great features but costs $289+/month with stability concerns. Compare usability, pricing, and support with more affordable, reliable alternatives.

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Data Security: Why Your EMR Needs to be SOC2/HIPAA Certified in 2025

September 22, 2025

Essential guide to EMR data security. Learn the differences between SOC2 and HIPAA, why both matter, and how to protect patient records from ransomware attacks.

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Client Success Stories: Transitioning to Proactive Chart (2025 Case Studies)

September 21, 2025

Real success stories from practices that switched to Proactive Chart. See before/after metrics, cost savings, productivity gains, and migration experiences.

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Exporting Data from SimplePractice for Migration: Complete 2025 Guide

September 13, 2025

Step-by-step instructions for exporting client data from SimplePractice. Learn about Client Details reports, Chart Note exports, file re-association, and migration best practices.

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Medicare Telehealth Rules for PTs: The 2025 Cliff Explained

September 13, 2025

Understanding Medicare telehealth expiration timelines for physical therapy in 2025. Learn about Sept 30/Dec 31 deadlines, 95 modifier usage, POS codes, and distant site provider rules.

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Physical Therapy Business Plan Template 2025 (Free Download Guide)

September 8, 2025

Complete PT business plan template with financial projections, market analysis, and startup cost calculator. Step-by-step guide to secure funding and launch your practice successfully.

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Raintree Systems Alternatives for Small to Mid-Sized Clinics (2025)

September 5, 2025

Raintree EMR is enterprise-grade but overkill for 1-5 provider clinics. Compare simpler, more affordable alternatives with pediatric therapy capabilities and easier workflows.

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Jane App vs. Proactive Chart: A Pricing & Feature Breakdown (2025)

August 23, 2025

Jane App's add-on pricing model can cost $100-150+/month fully loaded. Compare with Proactive Chart's all-inclusive $79/month for US PT practices needing Medicare compliance.

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Creating a Patient Portal That Patients Actually Use in 2025

August 21, 2025

Transform patient engagement with a portal people love to use. Learn mobile optimization strategies, essential features like self-scheduling and bill pay, and how to achieve 60%+ adoption rates.

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Audit-Proof Documentation: The SOAP Note Standard

August 16, 2025

Master audit-proof PT documentation: skilled vs unskilled vocabulary glossary, 'patient tolerated' red flags, perfect SOAP note template walkthrough, and medical necessity justification strategies.

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Integrated E-Faxing for Medical Practices: Eliminate Extra Fees and Save Time

August 16, 2025

Why integrated eFax in your EMR saves $10-30/month and hours of workflow time compared to standalone fax services. HIPAA-compliant physician signatures simplified.

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The Cost of Downtime: Why Reliability Matters in EMRs (2025 Analysis)

August 15, 2025

Calculate the true cost of EMR downtime for your practice. Learn why 99.9% uptime SLA matters and how Monday morning outages destroy productivity and revenue.

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EMR Usability: Why User Interface (UI) Impacts Patient Care in 2025

August 12, 2025

How EMR usability affects patient care quality. Learn about click fatigue, documentation burden, and why intuitive interfaces reduce physician burnout.

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SimplePractice for Physical Therapy: Is It Enough? (2025 Comparison)

August 8, 2025

SimplePractice raised prices from $29 to $49+ in 2025. Discover if this mental-health-focused EMR meets PT-specific needs or if specialized alternatives offer better value.

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AI Scribing for Physical Therapy: The Future of Documentation in 2025

August 7, 2025

Comprehensive guide to AI medical scribes for PT including ambient listening technology, automated SOAP notes, cost comparison, and burnout reduction benefits.

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The Ultimate Guide to WebPT Alternatives for Small Practices (2025 Edition)

August 7, 2025

Frustrated with WebPT's frequent outages, price increases, and complex pricing? Discover affordable WebPT alternatives built for small PT practices in 2025.

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How to Cancel Your Tebra/Kareo Contract: 2025 Complete Guide

August 4, 2025

Step-by-step guide to canceling your Tebra or Kareo contract. Learn about 60-day notice requirements, data retention policies, refund rules, and migration timeline.

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Tebra vs. Proactive Chart: Which is Best for Independent Practices?

August 3, 2025

Compare Tebra (formerly Kareo) with Proactive Chart for independent practices. Discover transparent pricing, easier workflows, and flexible contracts without 60-day notice requirements.

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Text Message & Email Appointment Reminders: Cut No-Shows by 40%

August 2, 2025

SMS text reminders are 3x more effective than email for reducing no-shows. Learn HIPAA-compliant 2-way texting, effectiveness statistics, and implementation.

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The Medicare 8-Minute Rule: A 2025 Refresher & Cheat Sheet

July 30, 2025

Complete guide to Medicare's 8-minute rule for physical therapy billing in 2025. Includes unit breakdown tables, mixed remainders scenarios, and calculator guidance.

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Exporting Patient Data from WebPT: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

July 22, 2025

Complete guide to exporting patient records from WebPT. Learn about Report Manager exports, CSV cleanup, bulk export limitations, and PDF workarounds.

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The Hidden Costs of 'Free' and Low-Cost EMRs (2025 Reality Check)

July 22, 2025

Free EMR software sounds great—until HIPAA breaches, labor inefficiency, and migration costs hit. Discover the real total cost of ownership and hidden pitfalls to avoid.

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Neurological Rehabilitation EMR: Long-Term Progress Tracking Features

July 15, 2025

Essential EMR features for neuro rehab PT including Berg Balance Scale, FIM tracking, Fugl-Meyer assessment, and longitudinal graphing for slow incremental progress.

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2025 ICD-10 Coding Updates for Physical Therapy

July 14, 2025

Complete guide to 2025 ICD-10-CM code updates for PT/OT practices. Learn about new diagnosis codes, deletions, and how automated EMR systems prevent claim denials.

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Best EMR Software for Cash-Based Physical Therapy Practices (2025)

July 13, 2025

Discover the top EMR systems for cash-based PT practices with automated superbill generation, transparent payment processing, and patient-friendly features. Compare pricing and features.

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Efficient Documentation Tips: End 'Pajama Time' with Point-of-Care Charting

July 12, 2025

85% of therapists take documentation home. Learn point-of-care documentation strategies, mobile tablet workflows, and real-time flowsheet entry to reclaim your evenings.

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Digital Intake Forms: Going Paperless in 2025 for Better Patient Experience and Efficiency

July 11, 2025

Eliminate paper intake forms and save 15 minutes per patient. Learn about mobile-optimized digital intake, automated data flow, error reduction, and ROI for small practices going paperless.

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HIPAA Compliance for Small Medical Practices

July 9, 2025

Complete 2025 HIPAA compliance guide for small PT/medical practices: BAA requirements, data encryption (at-rest vs in-transit), penalties up to $2.1M, and Proactive Chart security architecture.

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Reducing Patient No-Shows: Strategies and Software Solutions for 2025

July 9, 2025

Discover proven strategies to reduce patient no-shows by up to 80%. Learn about SMS vs email effectiveness, automated reminder systems, and the true cost of missed appointments.

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