As part of the Australian Government’s recent changes to private health insurance, insurers will no longer be able to offer benefits for most natural therapies from 1 April 2019.
This includes Pilates, which means no class or service with the name Pilates or advertised as such will be rebatable for anyone from any clinic.
But that doesn’t mean Pilates classes at Fitwise Physiotherapy are gone for good.
It just means that classes need to fulfil the health fund requirements to be rebateable. These are: individually prescribed exercise programs, that are goal specific, and for which individual records are kept.
But what does this mean for you? Helping you achieve your goals is what Fitwise is all about, and they already fulfil these requirements, however the name will change from Clinical Pilates to Clinical Physio Class.
Their Clinical Physio (previously Clinical Pilates) classes call on some (but not exclusively) Pilates based exercises and equipment, to provide the tailored programs prescribed by your treating Physiotherapist.
A minimum requirement of one annual assessment by a Physiotherapist via a consultation is also required by private health insurers.
Co-director Gen McGlashan says the minimum requirements match the excellent standard of care you expect from Fitwise.
“Ideally, we would prefer two to three assessments per year to ensure your goals are being met in the most efficient way for you,” she said.
“If you are having ongoing consultations as part of your treatment, you do not need to make a separate assessment consultation, your treating physio will be able to discuss your goals and write your program from your treatment consultations.
“If you are a current client and have not had an assessment in some time, a ’check-in’ consultation will be required. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please speak to our staff.”
Fitwise believe the change from Clinical Pilates services and classes to Clinical Physio Class to better reflects what they do and satisfies health fund requirements for rebates.
