Iowa State’s Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy Center has been approved as a provider of physical therapy and athletic training services in three of the university’s new faculty and staff benefits plans.

The new benefit change will occur on Feb. 1.

In order to become a provider, two thirds of the ISU faculty and staff members must go through an evaluation process and answer a series of questions.

ISU’s traditional indemnity, HMO, and the point of service benefits plans will pay “usual and reasonable fees minus a deductible” for services at the center, said Jim Nespor, physical therapist.

The cost for the program is the small deductible fee, he said.

Located in the Lied Recreation and Athletic Facility, the center offers physical therapy and sports medicine care for ISU students, employees and their families.

This is the same facility that serves the intramural athletes for injuries. In most cases, center patients must be referred by a physician or another health-care professional, Nespor said.

The center also serves people with sports and work-related injuries and other health problems.