As many of you know, most Private Health Insurers stopped covering ‘Pilates’ classes from April 1st, 2019. This change was prompted by a federal government decision aimed at reducing rising health care premiums by excluding coverage for certain natural therapies, including Pilates.

This decision has been surprising for many in the industry, especially considering the substantial scientific evidence supporting the benefits of Pilates for preventing and managing various health issues, including lower back pain.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has engaged in extensive negotiations with Private Health Insurers on this matter. They concluded that physiotherapists can prescribe exercises, including in class settings, after assessing patients. These exercises are tailored to each client, with reassessments conducted at the end of the term. At TPM Townsville, we already follow this process, so our clinical practices and settings will remain unchanged. The only modification will be renaming our class from ‘Clinical Pilates’ to ‘Mat Movement.’ This ensures that our clients’ ability to claim rebates from their health care providers will not be affected.

Although the debate between the APA and Private Health Insurers continues, it is unlikely to influence the federal government’s decision. At TPM Clinics, we are committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based treatments and exercise rehabilitation. This includes Pilates-based exercises, which we will now refer to under the new class name.

If you have any questions or concerns about these changes, or if you would like to inquire about our classes, please feel free to call our clinic at 07 4740 4516. Learn more about Pilates at TPM here