The ACC blow-out is no reason to cut physio care

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New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists

It’s an ACC blow-out: no reason to blow up physiotherapy patients’ care

Reacting to comments from the Minister for ACC, Nick Smith that ACC will not be as "generous" in the future, in ways such as covering the full costs of physiotherapy, Mr Warren stated that funding physiotherapy for injured people is not generosity – it actually saves money. “It’s the physio who gets people back to work, play, and normal life as soon as possible," he said.

“An independent review showed that ACC is a long way from covering the full costs of physiotherapy now. The review showed that it’s physios who are subsidising a good part of the costs of ACC treatments which many injured people have received for free in the last couple of years,” Mr Warren said.

“However we appreciate that the Minister has a problem,” said Mr Warren. “We will be happy to work with him and ACC officials to find the best ways to deliver the best treatment at the best time for the best cost, for the benefit of all New Zealanders. In fact, being the largest ACC provider group we requested a meeting with the Minister as soon as the new government was formed“ but we are still to met with him.

Mr Warren said he is sure that the Society of Physiotherapists can make some helpful suggestions. “One obvious one is to reduce the very high compliance costs ACC imposes on physios. We can also discuss a return to having each physio make a decision on charges for patients, to make up the difference between ACC fees and the physio's costs. In that case we need to decide together how to reduce the impact on patients.

Mr Warren reminds the Minister that the independent reviewer said the physiotherapy profession is already unsustainable. “Nobody can expect physios to bear more costs when it’s already been shown that we’re losing out,” said Mr Warren. “Our workforce shortages would get even worse. Our New Zealand physios are highly skilled and internationally valued, and essential to the recovery of injured New Zealanders. Let's not lose them.

ENDS

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