Purpose of the report
Commissioned by the Accident Compensation Corporation and Physiotherapy New Zealand, this report presents an independent, evidence-based review of the New Zealand physiotherapy services market for ACC-funded care. It assesses how current commissioning, funding, and market structures influence access, equity, cost pressures, and system sustainability, drawing on quantitative analysis, stakeholder engagement, and international comparisons to provide an objective foundation for policy and system improvement.
Key findings
The analysis identifies sustained growth in physiotherapy claims and expenditure, outpacing population growth and partly linked to workforce expansion. There are persistent inequities in access and utilisation by ethnicity, deprivation, and rurality, with underserved regions having lower provider availability. The market is characterised by small, heterogeneous practices with variable financial sustainability driven by utilisation and copayments. While the workforce is growing overall, it is unevenly distributed. Current commissioning settings contribute to cost pressures, limited triaging, weak incentives for innovation and data use, and ongoing challenges to achieving equitable and sustainable system outcomes.
Sapere staff involved: David Moore, Rebecca Rippon, Ashley Milkop, Julius Ohrnberger,
Angus White, Douglas Yee and Rohan Trill.
Client
Accident Compensation Corporation
Physiotherapy New Zealand