NEWS RELEASE'
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