Have you been alarmed to hear from your Health Fund that PILATES won’t be covered anymore?

Feb 20, 2019 | Physiotherapy

Health Fund Changes

You may have received an email or letter from your health fund advising you Pilates is no longer covered, which is true, PILATES is no longer recognised as a sole therapy. The new rules in line with the PHI reforms as outlined by the APA (physio’s governing board).

What are the new rules?

Private health insurance rebates will no longer be available for a number of natural therapies including Pilates. As a result of our advocacy efforts, the Department of Health has confirmed that physiotherapists are the only practitioners eligible to deliver exercises drawn from Pilates within their scope of practice and claim rebates.

However, physiotherapy exercise sessions – whether individual, group or class – cannot be promoted or advertised as Pilates or clinical Pilates.

The Department’s initial position was to remove all rebates for Pilates-informed exercises regardless of who delivered them or where. The outcome we have negotiated means physiotherapists can continue to prescribe treatments informed by a range of relevant techniques.

It also clearly differentiates physiotherapy from other treatment practices – and recognises our training and expertise in clinical settings.

Our session which were once referred to as pilates are now referred to as group physiotherapy sessions, which are without a doubt informed  by the Pilates method but not solely.

Extensive education in physiotherapy based science and exercise science helps shape the sessions so many people enjoy at TLWS. We are proud to marry many therapeutic methods together and therefore don’t have a problem not referring to the sessions as pilates.

Like all change it takes a while to get used to! If you have been seeing our physio team for your class, nothing will change, you attend “physiotherapy group therapy” which is on your invoices and covered by the codes 560 and 561.

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    COVID-19

    As per the government health guidelines on the 22nd of March 2020 non essential services will be closed. This does not include us. While we are still open for our usual services we will be practicing strict and heightened hygiene measures during this time to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

    From the PM’s address today, we want to be clear we are not a gym. We are a health care practice, that provides services to optimise health and reduce pain from musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. Our studio team are ensuring complete high grade sanitisation of props and equipment that will only be single person use for each session, and ensuring social distancing. The staff and studio have had no connection to the COVID-19 at this time.

    As per the government health guidelines we will not allow access to our services if you answer “yes” to any of the below:

    Have you been overseas in the last 14 days?
    Have you been in contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days?
    Do you have a dry cough, shortness of breath, fever or sore throat?
    If answered yes to any of the above, please call the COVID-19 hotline on 1800 020 080.

    We ask patients who are at risk to please let us know before your appointment so we can discuss your position. This includes immune-suppressed, the elderly and those who have been in high-risk areas. We also ask that you call the clinic if you do develop COVID-19 or have come in contact with someone who has so we can act according to the government recommendations.

    For all treatments, our linen is being changed for every client and a wipe down of all equipment used. We ask that you remain in your car until your treatment time to minimise patient to patient contact in the waiting area. We also ask that you use ‘tap and go’ for your payment method rather than cash. Also we will not require you to sign your health fund slip to minimise cross use of pens between staff and patients. All our door handles and surfaces are regularly being cleaned during the day.

    We ask everyone who comes in for group therapy sessions.

    Bring a large towel and socks.
    Keep 1.5m distance between yourself and others.
    Wash your hands before and after the class.
    If you need to cough or sneeze, cover your face and wash or sanitise hands immediately.
    If you wish to wear gloves we have them available for you.
    Online and Telehealth will be an option in the very near future….watch this space.

    We are understanding of each and everyone’s individual position and we deeply care for your health and encourage everyone to take steps to keep strong and healthy at this time. Please feel free to call or email our staff to voice your concern and receive guidance. We are dedicated to informing you of our position and future movements in relation to Covid-19.

    Thank you for your cooperation and support.

    TLWS Management team.