PHI Reforms & Pilates ~ a statement from APPI Co Founder Glenn Withers
Dear APPI Members Australia,
I hope this finds you well. I wanted to write to you all in regards to the recent changes to the way Pilates is billed to insurance companies in Australia. I understand how this may appear like a challenging time for you all. However, I see this as a great opportunity for you to establish the key difference between your physiotherapy and Pilates programs and those of the non-clinical population.
In most countries around the world, in fact, in all the countries I have been in apart from Australia, classes have never been billable to the insurance company. Here in the UK where our practices operate we can only bill 1:1sessions under the physiotherapy title. We still run almost 100 classes a week between 2 large practices and this is all self-paid! In reading the APA’s statement it seems that you are, in fact, still able to bill classes. The key difference is in your initial assessment, note taking and marketing. Here are some important notes to consider based on the three elements you must adhere to in your PHI compliance:
- Individualised assessment: As you know the APPI recommends that anyone going into a Pilates class is assessed first in a 1:1 session. This would fulfil the first criteria reported under the PHI compliance statement from the APA. Furthermore, we deliver outcome measures to all our class participants as part of our record keeping. This is a quick and easy way to make sure you are delivering the services in compliance with the role of a physiotherapist.
- All APPI classes have modifications of the exercises of up to 5 or 6 levels and by offering these modifications throughout your class you are in fact creating a tailored made program for individuals. If you offer studio based sessions, whereby clients are working out on various apparatus to their own defined program, as is delivered in many rehab Pilates studios around the world, you are, once again, creating exercise based interventions specific to the patient. I would recommend that you include in your sessions exercises on other pieces of equipment such as the gym ball, bosu, perhaps a little cardio work on a bike or treadmill, or some other relevant standing, functional exercises. We do this all the time in our London studios as we feel it is vital that the clients receive a true all over workout. In doing this you are adhering to the concept of a tailored exercise session as opposed to a specific Pilates class.
- Clinical notes – As a physiotherapist you should be taking notes on all our sessions anyway and therefore I see this as just confirming what you should be doing for best practice. We run off an online notes platform and have notes for all sessions, be it individual, duets, studio or group classes.
- Marketing – This is where you need to be clear and clever. Think of how you can market and phrase your offerings to be able to offer Pilates classes for those not claiming, and classes for those wanting rebate. Once again, I see this as a great opportunity for you, the physiotherapy community, to separate your services from those of the general Pilates community.
In our experience, most people will self-pay for Pilates services, certainly those in group sessions. It is after all, a billion dollar industry worldwide. Pilates studios are flying, and your services, in our opinion, will be some of the best on the planet. Therefore be proud and confident of the services you have to offer. You now have the ability to also create a new, more defined, more targeted area of your business. Think of how you can advertise your services as physiotherapists offering Pilates based rehabilitation programs. How you can shout about your advanced qualifications and more in depth movement analysis. Think about you can use this to your advantage and make the most of the PHI rebate client and the self-paying client.
I would also like to commend the APA on their stance and their clear and defined statement. I know a lot of noise has been made about what Pilates qualifications and services may be recognised. The APA has made it clear that any physiotherapist offering Pilates based rehabilitation services are acting as a physiotherapist and therefore are able to bill accordingly. Therefore, let's be clear that there is no difference in the eyes of PMI in regards to your ability to offer rebatable services if you have received an APPI qualification to any other clinical based Pilates program. In our opinion the only difference is the quality of the program and the professionalism of the organisations.
The Pilates world is enormous, and I guess you guys have had it really good for a long time. However, what you are seeing now is a move to match what is happening in the rest of the world, and we are all flying along and making great use of the Pilates world and the physiotherapy rehabilitation world.
I honestly see this as a great positive for the Physiotherapy community inAustralia, and commend the APA on the stance and the fight they have taken here. It may be hard to see it right now, but this is your chance to separate your services from the generalised Pilates community and shout about how unique and specific your services are. That’s what we do here at our APPI studios in London.
I wish you all the best of luck and look forward to seeing you on our courses soon.
Glenn Withers
Co-Founder and CEO
APPI Health Group