Therapy

The treatment of a person to help cure a disease or disorder.

A term which, when used alone, as in “the patient is undergoing therapy,” means that the patient is being treated. When used with a modifier, as in “speech therapy,” the term means a specific treatment method or technique.

A term used in connection with health care financing. The first and second parties are the patient and the provider. The third party is a payer who is neither of these. Examples are Blue Cross and Blue Shield, commercial insurance, and government. Third parties are increasingly employers, who try to save the money paid to insurance companies or other third parties.

Sometimes used interchangeably with treatment to refer to the care of a patient. For example, “the patient is undergoing therapy” means that the patient is being treated. However, it usually refers to a specific type of treatment method or technique.