ACC fees cost physio jobs

The number of people getting ACC-subsidised physiotherapy has dropped by a quarter and the number of treatments they're getting has dropped 38 per cent since ACC introduced changes including user part-charges last November.

Physiotherapy Trust spokesman Murray Hing said the impact on physiotherapy businesses has been massive, with clinics closing, redundancies in the industry, and 60 per cent of last year's new graduates heading overseas because they can't get jobs.

In Palmerston North, Ora3 Ltd at The Palms has been a casualty, going into liquidation last month, although physiotherapists are still accepting and treating clients there.

Former director Carol Armitage, who is looking for work in women's health, blamed the company collapse in part on ACC, but also acknowledged that she hadn't reacted fast enough to the changes. "It was the time of year – summer is not so busy, and it's lean when Massey finishes. It was a combination for me, and I really didn't have a Plan B."

The Physiotherapy Trust, which was formed last year for private physiotherapists who felt the Society of Physiotherapists wasn't advocating strongly enough for them, supported user part-charges.

"I believe the public should pay, and ACC should contribute," said Mr Hing. "If you pay, you take ownership. You turn up for treatments, you do your exercise, and make the effort to get better, and you don't keep coming back when you know you don't need to."

But Mr Hing said some people had been confused by the message, and thought ACC cover for physiotherapy had disappeared.

Compounding the issue, ACC was turning down more claims, and making it harder for people to get extensions to their subsidised treatment courses.

Some people couldn't be bothered seeking a review of ACC decisions not to treat, or not to extend treatment.

"There is a group of people who think it's all too hard, and in the recession, there will be people who can't afford to pay. The concern is that three months later their pain becomes chronic, they become debilitated, and take even longer off work."

ACC's figures provided to the Manawatu Standard show that since November, claims have dropped back close to 2004 levels, before physiotherapy became free to the client.

- © Fairfax NZ News