**Insurance reimbursement can feel like a mystery for many Medical Exercise Professionals—**you're delivering results, but not getting paid. That was reality for Kevin James, MES—until he discovered the six essential criteria for claim approval. His journey from frustration to reimbursement success offers a clear roadmap for every MedExPRO ready to get paid for the work they’re already doing. Read on and learn how Kevin learned how to manage his MET insurance claim. 

Client Background

Client Name: Joan D.
Age: 62
Primary Diagnosis: Post-Total Knee Replacement (Right)
Comorbidities: Type 2 Diabetes, Mild Obesity
Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO

Joan had completed physical therapy after her total knee replacement surgery but continued to struggle with activities of daily living (ADLs)—specifically stairs, walking without fatigue, and standing for prolonged periods.

MedExPRO: Kevin James, MES

Kevin is a certified METI-Medical Exercise Specialist with 4 years of experience in...

As the need for Medical Exercise Training (MET) continues to rise, private insurance carriers are slowly opening the door to reimbursing these valuable services.

But before you submit your first claim, there’s one critical question to answer:

Does your client—and your service—meet the necessary criteria?

After 31 years of educating Medical Exercise Professionals and working within the healthcare ecosystem, we’ve identified a six-point checklist every MET case must meet before an insurance company even reviews the claim.

Let’s break them down:

1. A Valid Medical Referral

You must have a written referral from a licensed medical provider:

• MD (Doctor of Medicine)

• DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

• DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine)

• Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant (under the supervision of an MD or DO)

No referral? No claim.

2. Completion of Professional Rehab

The client must have already received the maximum benefit from:

• Physical Therap

  ...

Let’s be honest.....

If you're a MedExPRO grinding day after day, wondering why the phone isn’t ringing, why doctors aren’t referring, and why your bank account still looks like it did six months ago—you’re not alone. But you are stuck. And it’s time to stop pretending that another social media post or another “networking event” is going to magically fix it.

You didn’t invest in your education, get certified, and study medical conditions just to settle for three clients, no physician referrals, and a practice that feels more like a side hustle than a business. You became a Medical Exercise Specialist to bridge the gap—to change lives and get paid like the professional you are.

So why isn’t it working?

Because you’re likely missing the “Five Foundations of a Thriving Medical Exercise Practice”. Every stuck MedExPRO I coach is missing at least two. And the ones who turn it around? They master all five.

🔥 1. Clarity is Your Compass

If I asked you to describe your practice in one sen...

Unlock Insurance Reimbursement: A Guide to CPT & ICD-10 Codes for Medical Exercise Professionals

Good morning! Michael Jones from the Medical Exercise Training Institute here, and welcome to a crucial discussion for all medical exercise professionals looking to expand their practices and connect with the medical community: CPT and ICD-10 codes.

For years, the idea of insurance reimbursement for medical exercise professionals seemed like a distant dream. However, I'm happy to say that we are increasingly seeing medical exercise professionals successfully navigate the world of insurance carriers and receive reimbursement for their valuable services, especially over the last decade.

This brings us to the core of our discussion: understanding ICD-10 codes, the diagnostic codes, and CPT codes, the current procedural terminology codes, which are essential when dealing with insurance carriers. But let me be absolutely clear: simply knowing a CPT code is not the answer. There is a systemati...

Medical Exercise Training (MET) is more critical than ever, bridging the gap between healthcare and fitness to help individuals manage medical conditions through structured exercise programs. As a Medical Exercise Professional (MedExPRO), your work positively impacts your clients' health and quality of life. However, achieving sustained success in this specialized field requires careful navigation.

To help you thrive, here are five common pitfalls every MedExPRO must avoid:

1. Ignoring the Business Side of Your Practice

Passion for client care alone is not enough. To run a successful MET practice, you must also master fundamental business principles. Neglecting essential management systems—such as scheduling, documentation, billing, and marketing—creates chaos and financial instability. Without clearly defined systems and regular tracking of your practice metrics (client retention, acquisition rates, profitability), you risk losing control of your business.

What to do instead:

• E...

Becoming a successful Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) is about more than your clinical skills—it’s about adopting the right mindsets and embracing specific practices that elevate your role from practitioner to business owner and trusted medical partner. Based on decades of experience and proven success, here are five essential mindset shifts that every MES needs to develop to build a thriving, impactful Medical Exercise Training (MET) practice:

1. Think Like a Business Owner

Your passion for helping clients improve their function is critical—but so is your ability to manage and grow your practice. This means knowing your numbers (clients, retention, revenue, and costs) and implementing efficient practice management systems. These systems aren’t just about paperwork; they're tools that streamline everything from scheduling, billing, and documentation, to marketing and staffing. Embrace the business owner mindset and watch your practice thrive.

Ask Yourself:

• Do you regularly revi...

Medical Exercise Specialists, this post reviews how to price Medical Exercise Training (MET) services effectively by understanding your real costs and the valuable outcomes you provide to clients. Pricing should reflect the effort, expertise, and significant improvements you bring to your clients' daily lives, such as reducing discomfort, improving strength, or restoring important activities. Pricing too low can create financial stress and suggest lower quality service to clients.

Avoid setting prices just by comparing yourself with competitors, as this can result in unsustainable price wars. Instead, base your rates on your actual costs, including expenses like travel, insurance, and professional time spent on client education and follow-up with medical professionals. Your pricing should also clearly represent the professional value and quality of the services you offer.

Understanding your client's perspective on pricing is important. Clients highly value the positive changes MET br...

Let’s be honest—most Medical Exercise Professionals aren’t struggling because they lack exercise knowledge.

They’re struggling because no one ever taught them how to run a business.

If you're frustrated with inconsistent referrals, unsure about your pricing, overwhelmed by documentation, or avoiding conversations with physicians, it's time for a reset—and a wake-up call.

If you're a certified Medical Exercise/Fitness professional working with clients who have medical conditions, ask yourself:

• Am I consistently getting referrals from physicians and healthcare providers?

• Do I know how much it actually costs me to train a client—and am I pricing correctly?

• Can I take time off without my revenue dropping to zero?

• Do I have intake, documentation, and follow-up systems that look and feel professional?

• Am I confident when talking to physicians, billing for services, or promoting my business?

If you hesitate on even one of these, you’re not underperforming beca...

Impostor syndrome among Medical Exercise Specialists (MES) is not uncommon. In this post, Dr Mike discusses how Impostor syndrome happens when MES professionals doubt their skills, even after extensive training. During client assessments, this uncertainty can cause MESs to rely too heavily on basic personal training techniques, ignoring important aspects of medical exercise assessments such as anatomy or pathology. Avoiding these crucial points prevents specialists from effectively using their advanced training.

Another common sign of impostor syndrome is avoiding communication with doctors, therapists, and chiropractors who refer clients. Professionals might fear being asked questions they can't answer, but these medical providers mainly want updates about the exercise plan and progress—not medical diagnoses or treatments. Clear communication with medical providers is important for building professional credibility.

Having certifications alone doesn't build confidence. Confidence gr...

The Essentials of Medical Exercise Business Workshop is Coming!!

Let’s be honest—most medical exercise and fitness professionals aren’t struggling because they lack exercise knowledge. They’re struggling because no one ever taught them how to run a business.

If you’re frustrated by inconsistent referrals, unsure of your pricing, overwhelmed with documentation, or avoiding conversations with physicians… it’s time for a reset.

If you’re a certified Medical Exercise or fitness professional working with clients who have medical conditions—pause for a moment and ask yourself:

• Am I consistently getting referrals from physicians and other healthcare providers?
• Do I know how much it really costs me to train a client—and am I pricing correctly?
• Can I take time off without revenue dropping to zero?
• Do I have documentation, intake, and follow-up systems that look and feel professional?
• Am I confident talking to physicians, billing for services, or promoting my practice?

If you feel e...