Insurers can make physical therapy hard to access. California can change that

When she had a stroke two years ago, that lesson came full circle. I became her caregiver, her voice pushing her health plan to approve the care she needed. 

Even with good insurance, we had to fight arbitrary prior authorization requirements just to get her into physical therapy. Then every two sessions we had to beg and wait for approval for the next two. 

Recovery doesn’t happen in two-visit increments. It happens when patients have timely, uninterrupted access. That was my inspiration for Assembly Bill 574, which would end insurers’ vague prior authorization requirements and guarantee patients up to 12 physical therapy visits before health plans can delay or deny care. 

Research shows about 90% of patients need at least that many visits to make real progress. But when patients are forced to wait, they don’t just lose time — they lose strength and hope, and they face higher medical costs down the road.

Physical therapists are the unsung heroes of recovery. They are there when a stroke survivor takes their first steps, when a new mother struggles through postpartum pain, when someone with Parkinson’s learns new ways to stay independent, and when an athlete fights to get back on the field. 

We cannot let red tape from insurance companies get in their way. Maine and Indiana have already passed similar laws. It’s California’s turn.

Some health plans argue AB 574 will increase costs. They’re wrong. Early, reliable access to physical therapy reduces health care costs by as much as 75% by preventing complications and avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations or reliance on painkillers. 

My mother’s journey taught me how fragile life is, but also how powerful it can be when patients get the right care at the right time. I saw her strength — not just physical, but spiritual — return little by little with every session. Her therapists didn’t just help her move again; they gave her hope that she would once again cook her favorite meals, dance at family gatherings and live with dignity. 

Her story is not unique. Families across California are facing the same fight every day. AB 574, which awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, can give them a fair shot at recovery, letting families focus on healing instead of hurdles. 

Assemblymember Mark González, a Los Angeles Democrat, represents California’s 54th Assembly District. He wrote this for CalMatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.