Physio patients pay as ACC cuts costs

Physio patients pay as ACC cuts costs

The New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists is disappointed that ACC is reducing the amount of money it contributes towards treating accident victims.

ACC has today announced details of a new contract being offered to physiotherapists.

President of the Society, Jonathan Warren, says from 15 November patients will have to pay for part of their treatment.

“These changes mean that some people who need treatment will not be able to afford it. If a patient doesn’t get early treatment for an injury, recovery can take much longer and their health may suffer in the long run. In some cases a simple problem, untreated, can lead to permanent disability.”

Mr Warren says the Society argued strongly with ACC to make provision for low-income earners to have access to affordable physiotherapy services. “It is shortsighted of the government not to address this question. Untreated injuries will end up costing the government much more in health and social dollars. “

Mr Warren is also concerned about the effect the lower subsidy will have on individual clinics, especially since an independent review found that physiotherapists were already significantly underfunded. “I expect that as fewer people seek treatment, some clinics will have to cut staff, and others may even be forced to close. Reducing the physiotherapy workforce will reduce the country’s ability to meet health targets.”

Mr Warren says each physiotherapy clinic will decide individually how much to charge in order to cover their costs for the physiotherapy service. However each service will have to charge at least enough to make up for the reduced subsidy.

In some physiotherapy clinics which did not sign up to the earlier ACC contract, patients already pay part of the cost of their treatment – and this is unlikely to change.

ENDS

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