Background
The term "Self-referral in Physical Therapy" describes a financial relationship between a physical therapist and a physician in which a physician (medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, podiatrist, dentist or chiropractor) refers a patient for physical therapy and derives a financial benefit from the physical therapy services provided to the person who is referred.

History
The Federal physician self-referral law (Stark II) prohibits physicians from referring Medicare patients for certain health care services to entities with which the physicians or their immediate family members have a financial relationship. A financial relationship can be either an ownership interest or a compensation arrangement, and can be direct or indirect.