Danish region wants health service physiotherapy without referral from doctor
Greater Copenhagen says it wants to extend nationally a scheme allowing patients to access physiotherapy through the public health system without a doctor’s referral.
Under current rules, referral from a doctor covers around 40 percent of the cost of physiotherapy treatment.
Patients can go directly to physiotherapists without a doctors’ referral if they pay the full cost of treatment.
The proposed scheme would see physiotherapists make the decision as to whether the patient qualifies for the subsidy.
A trial project in two municipalities in the region, Ballerup and Frederikssund, proved popular with patients and doctors.
As a result, the Greater Copenhagen health region wants to see whether the scheme can be extended nationally, news wire Ritzau reports.
“If we can offer easier access to treatment thereby avoid patients getting worsened symptoms and needing more expensive treatment later on, I think it would be worth it,” Karin Friis Bach, an elected head of committee for local health services with Region Greater Copenhagen, told Ritzau.
An evaluation by the health authority suggested that direct access to physiotherapy did not increase costs for the public health provider. The scheme did not result in increased demand at physio clinics, results from evaluation of the scheme showed.
The plan could relieve strain on the health service according to the chairman for the general practitioners’ union PLO in Copenhagen, Peder Reistad.
“In a time where there is a shortage of GPs and the entire health system is under strain, it makes sense to look at whether there are tasks that can be undertaken more smoothly to free up time for general practice,” Reistad said.
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Under current rules, referral from a doctor covers around 40 percent of the cost of physiotherapy treatment.
Patients can go directly to physiotherapists without a doctors’ referral if they pay the full cost of treatment.
The proposed scheme would see physiotherapists make the decision as to whether the patient qualifies for the subsidy.
A trial project in two municipalities in the region, Ballerup and Frederikssund, proved popular with patients and doctors.
As a result, the Greater Copenhagen health region wants to see whether the scheme can be extended nationally, news wire Ritzau reports.
“If we can offer easier access to treatment thereby avoid patients getting worsened symptoms and needing more expensive treatment later on, I think it would be worth it,” Karin Friis Bach, an elected head of committee for local health services with Region Greater Copenhagen, told Ritzau.
An evaluation by the health authority suggested that direct access to physiotherapy did not increase costs for the public health provider. The scheme did not result in increased demand at physio clinics, results from evaluation of the scheme showed.
The plan could relieve strain on the health service according to the chairman for the general practitioners’ union PLO in Copenhagen, Peder Reistad.
“In a time where there is a shortage of GPs and the entire health system is under strain, it makes sense to look at whether there are tasks that can be undertaken more smoothly to free up time for general practice,” Reistad said.
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