Physiotherapy is a compulsory duty of social security in Austria. Since 2022 there has been a significant expansion of the health insurance contracts (benefits in kind) nationwide, but the model of election practice is more widespread among professionals.
“Little is described by the physiotherapeutic care of Austria, especially those through electoral physiotherapists. This data gap can be closed with the results of this study, ”says the study author Reinhard MeixnerGöG’s health expert, “however, further data should be collected.”
The study shows that the election physiotherapy is currently the preferred model for the health insurance contracts for the professional members, although there is also increasing demand here.
“The amount of the cash tariffs is continuously indexed and increases annually. A cash contract offers economic security with guaranteed utilization. In the electoral area, the entrepreneurial risk is higher, here, however, free honor design is and there are sometimes considerable gaps between the contract tariff and election fee in different forms. From the perspective of the persons surveyed, this gap should be narrower to consider a cash contract. However, this will probably not go out for health insurance companies in the next few years, so we will need other approaches for a more property benefit. Data for targeted supply planning, as generated by this study, are a step in the right direction. ” discussed Constance SchleglPresident of Physio Austria.
Schlegl continues: “In any case, the results of the study show the high relevance of the electoral area for the care of the population with physiotherapy. At the same time, it is urgently needed to enable much more people to access physiotherapy “to cash”, each of the physiotherapy needs, this should receive this as a property benefit. If you want and can afford it, you should continue to be able to go to the election physiotherapist. ”
From the perspective of Physio Austria, access to benefits in kind would also be an expansion of the integrated care, through which people are brought into health programs with structured treatment paths including physiotherapy.
With up to five inquiries per week: unfortunately no!
The fact that well over half of the respondents have to reject one to five inquiries a week allows the conclusion that the existing supply offer could be expanded and the capacities could be increased. An overriding share of the respondents, almost 77 percent, is exclusively active, but the range of services or care is heterogeneous. 12.1 percent more than 40 therapy units perform average per week, over 55 percent do between 11 and 30 therapy units weekly. In addition, there is the time for the necessary documentation, practical management and the legally anchored further and further education.
Wide range of treatment – high supply relevance
The treated symptoms/clinical pictures are diverse, this shows the broad spectrum of physiotherapeutic care relevance. In the case of majority of the complaints or diseases and deformities of the spine surveyed, the upper and lower extremities, fractures, arthrosis, postoperative symptoms, gait uncertainties, immobility, reduced general condition are treated in addition to a variety of other symptoms and diseases of all clinical disciplines . In order to be able to carry out targeted supply planning along the demographic development, further data collection – also in cooperation with social security – is required. “Physio Austria is constantly with the relevant areas in exchange,” emphasizes Constance Schlegl“To make our contribution that the population will in future receive needs -oriented access to physiotherapy based on the current data.”