According to the final report Market Research Physiotherapy Care by the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) shows that access to physiotherapy is generally good. For most requests for help, people can quickly reach a physiotherapist in their neighborhood. Although there are currently no acute problems, risks for the future are seen. Physiotherapy plays an important role in preventing more intensive care, relieving general practitioners, and strengthening patients self-reliance. To ensure that care remains available in the future, joint efforts are needed from physiotherapists and health insurers, and adjustments to the healthcare system should be considered.
Strengthening the Position of Physiotherapy
According to the NZa, a possible adjustment is to reimburse the first twenty treatments for chronically ill patients through the basic insurance. Patients currently pay a large part of the treatments for chronic conditions themselves. This can cause people not to visit the physiotherapist. With the proposed adjustment of the healthcare system, financial barriers for chronically ill patients are removed, physiotherapists can make a meaningful contribution to the movement towards appropriate care, and they gain a stronger role within the healthcare system.
Cooperation between Physiotherapists and Health Insurers
Our market research further shows that more effective cooperation in the region is needed. For this, physiotherapists and health insurers must cooperate less optionally among themselves. Practice shows that cooperation has so far been limited. This is partly due to differences in interests, degree of organization, and financial incentives. The NZa calls on physiotherapists and health insurers to work on improving cooperation. Additionally, the NZa proposes to periodically monitor the sectors status so that timely support and intervention can occur if necessary.
Little Reason for Minimum Rates
The NZa has explored the possibilities for minimum rates. This form of rate regulation is drastic and only deployable if there is demonstrable market failure, for example, if people suffer damage from how physiotherapy care is currently organized. Our research shows this is not the case. Thus, the conditions for implementing minimum rates are not met.
Research into Paramedical Sector
This report on the physiotherapy market is the first in a series of studies into the paramedical sector. Further studies will follow on speech therapy, occupational therapy, exercise therapy, and dietetics. The NZa conducts this at the request of the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport following signals of problems in the sector. The studies aim to provide a better picture of market developments and the underlying causes of signals of pressure on access to paramedical care.