IS PILATES COVERED BY MEDICARE AT BOUNCEREHAB OR ANY PILATES STUDIO ?

IS PILATES COVERED BY MEDICARE AT BOUNCEREHAB OR ANY PILATES STUDIO ?

By Matthew Craig Principal Physiotherapist

Kathryn: “It can be complex with all the new Pilates rules and regulations now. Yet my question is, is Pilates covered by Medicare” 🤔

Matt: I will elucidate to make it easier to understand… 😇

Matt: Well, if your GP thinks that you need to have cover under the CDM/EPC or the Chronic Disease Management Program, if your GP refers you for physiotherapy, a physiotherapist may decide to use clinical pilates exercises as your physiotherapy treatment. So it’s not a direct referral for pilates under the generic term. However, clinical pilates is a tool that a physiotherapist may or may not use. So, in a roundabout way, it could be covered for up to five sessions, but I wouldn’t be referring people just for pilates as such. You would need to be discussing that with your GP and with your physiotherapist.

Kathryn: So would Medicare cover me for pilates at my local gym?

Matt: No. That would be illegal.

*Thank you to my partner Kathryn (Head of Studio & Pilates at bounceREHAB) for frequently asking me such nail biting “straight to the point” questions at home whilst she strains herself cooking the family dinner. Stay tuned as we continue to tackle the big work issues in the Health & Wellness space.