Careway with The Physio Bunker

What injuries are covered by Careway?

Careway focuses on significant musculoskeletal injuries affecting the knee, shoulder and lumbar spine (lower back). These are injuries that may require specialist assessment or a coordinated treatment plan beyond standard physiotherapy alone. To qualify, you must have an accepted ACC claim for the injury and meet the programme's clinical eligibility criteria.

Knee injuries may include anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, meniscal tears, significant ligament injuries, certain fractures and other eligible knee conditions. Some patients with post-traumatic knee arthritis may also qualify for pathways involving procedures such as total knee replacement or high tibial osteotomy.

Shoulder injuries may include traumatic shoulder dislocations or instability, eligible rotator cuff tears and certain fractures involving the shoulder region, such as fractures of the clavicle or upper arm bone.

Lower-back injuries may include lumbar spine injuries associated with leg-dominant pain, such as nerve-related symptoms from a lumbar disc injury, or certain lumbar fractures.

Not every knee, shoulder or back injury qualifies for Careway. Eligibility depends on the nature and severity of the injury, the clinical findings, the need for specialist or multidisciplinary care and the programme's specific inclusion criteria. Your physiotherapist or other referring healthcare professional can help determine whether an assessment through Careway is appropriate.

Who is eligible for Careway?

To be considered for Careway, you generally need to meet the following requirements:

• An eligible injury: Your injury must involve the knee, shoulder or lower back and fall within the programme's approved clinical pathways.

• An accepted ACC claim: Your injury must have an accepted ACC claim covering the relevant body region.

• Recent injury: The injury must generally have occurred within the 12 months before referral.

• A need for coordinated care: Your injury is likely to benefit from specialist oversight and input from multiple healthcare professionals.

• Residency in New Zealand: You must intend to remain in Aotearoa New Zealand for the duration of your treatment pathway.

You can be referred by your GP, physiotherapist, sports physician, surgeon or another appropriate referring provider. A referral does not automatically guarantee acceptance into Careway; your clinical eligibility must be assessed and confirmed as part of the programme's process.

Is treatment under Careway free?

For patients who meet Careway's eligibility criteria and are accepted into the programme, covered physiotherapy treatment is funded by ACC, with no additional patient co-payment for those services.

Careway aims to reduce financial barriers to appropriate care and help you access the right treatment at the right time. Your physiotherapist can explain the process, help assess your suitability and guide you through the next steps. Funding applies to eligible Careway services rather than every treatment or service a patient might receive, so any exclusions or additional costs should be clarified before treatment.