Are you in need of physiotherapy treatment in New Zealand? If so, you may be eligible for subsidized care through the new Careway programme. Careway has a pilot contract with Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) to change the way that rehabilitation is delivered in NZ. In this blog post, we will explore Careway and ACC, how it works, and how you can access physiotherapy services at a reduced cost. Let’s dive in!
Is the treatment from the physio free?
Careway will subsidise the full cost of treatment so there is no cost to the patient in these Integrated Care Pathways. Essentially this will mean that the patient will have ‘free physio’. This programme is designed to ensure that people get timely and equitable access to rehabilitation. To be eligible for this programme, you principally need to have either a shoulder rotator cuff tear, or a shoulder dislocation/subluxation. You may need to pay the surcharge ($50) for the first visit while your physio arranges this for you.
What is ACC?
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is a government organization in New Zealand that provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for all residents and visitors to the country. ACC covers a wide range of injuries, including those resulting from accidents, medical treatment, and work-related incidents. For more information on ACC and the type of injuries that are covered, check out their website at www.acc.co.nz
What is Careway?
Careway is an ACC funded programme that provides injured New Zealanders with better and faster access to great healthcare services. You will receive the care you need, when you need it, at no cost to yourself. There is more information on the careway website https://www.careway.co.nz/about
How does ACC normally subsidize physiotherapy?
ACC recognizes the importance of physiotherapy in the recovery and rehabilitation process for many injuries. As a result, they offer subsidies for physiotherapy treatment to eligible individuals. These subsidies help to reduce the cost of physiotherapy sessions, making it more accessible for those in need. To be eligible for ACC subsidised physiotherapy, you typically must have a sudden onset of pain and had a traumatic accident. There are other ways that ACC can subsidise physiotherapy, but these are the most typical.
Who is eligible for subsidized physiotherapy?
To be eligible for subsidized physiotherapy through ACC, you must have a valid ACC claim related to your injury. This means that your injury must be covered by ACC, and you must have an accepted claim for that injury. The physios at Auckland Shoulder Clinic can log your injury with ACC directly and arrange an X-Ray or scan if required, so there is no need to see your GP first if you don’t want to.
How can you access subsidized physiotherapy?
Once you have an accepted ACC claim for your injury, you can access subsidized physiotherapy services. The physiotherapists at Auckland Shoulder Clinic have vast experience in treating ACC-related shoulder injuries and are familiar with the ACC process.
When you visit the physiotherapists at Auckland Shoulder Clinic, they will assess your injury and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. The cost of your physiotherapy sessions will be subsidized by ACC, meaning you will only need to pay a portion of the total cost. Discuss this with our receptionist when you call. 93666457
What are the benefits of subsidized physiotherapy?
Subsidized physiotherapy through ACC offers several benefits to individuals in need of treatment. Firstly, it helps to reduce the financial burden of physiotherapy, making it more affordable for those on a limited budget. Secondly, it ensures that individuals can access high-quality physiotherapy services from experienced professionals who understand the specific needs of ACC-related shoulder injuries.
By subsidizing physiotherapy, ACC aims to promote early intervention and effective rehabilitation, ultimately improving the overall health and well-being of individuals who have suffered injuries.
New initiatives from ACC to cover your shoulder injury
ACC has recently released some new initiatives to cover shoulder injuries. These are packaged under a programme called Integrated Care Pathways and are designed to reduce the barriers to physiotherapy such as cost of treatment. There is more information on Integrated Care Pathways here. These pathways look to be an evolution of the Careway programme
While the processes are still being worked out, we expect that these will be the following criteria
We expect ICPMSK will be for patients who meet the following criteria:
- have suffered a musculoskeletal injury in the lower back, shoulder, and knee regions
- had the injury within the last 12 months at time of referral
- patient’s recovery requires interdisciplinary treatment
- accepted cover for an injury to a body site within the scope of ICPMSK
- intends to reside in Aotearoa New Zealand for the duration of the pathway.
In conclusion
If you have an ACC claim for an injury in New Zealand, you may be eligible for subsidized physiotherapy. ACC’s subsidy program helps to make physiotherapy more accessible and affordable for those in need. By accessing physiotherapy services through ACC, you can receive the care and support you need to recover and regain your quality of life. Don’t let your injury hold you back – take advantage of the subsidized physiotherapy services available to you and call Auckland Shoulder Clinic now.
