The Real Reason Physical Therapy Clinics Are Struggling — And It's Not What You Think

Is physical therapy really facing a reimbursement crisis — or is it a business model crisis?

In this episode of PT Pintcast, Jimmy sits down with Matthew Pratte to unpack why private practice PT clinics may not have a value problem — they have a positioning problem.

They break down:

Why fee-for-service may be structurally broken

How direct-to-employer contracts work

Why self-insured employers are the hidden opportunity

What happens if independent clinics don’t adapt

If you're a clinic owner feeling margin compression, referral dependency, or uncertainty about the future — this conversation matters.

Chapters (Apple Podcasts Compliant)

00:00 – The Real PT Problem
02:14 – Fee-For-Service Limits
08:59 – Margin Compression Explained
13:01 – Direct Employer Model
19:07 – Misconceptions And Barriers
24:20 – First Practical Step
29:58 – Change The Model

Guest & Resources

🔗 Connect with Matthew Pratt on LinkedIn
🔗 Learn more about Second Door Health