Health policy expert Steven Lewis agrees, more rehab services needed

A leading health policy consultant in Saskatoon agrees with a call from physiotherapists to expand services in the province to make sure everyone in need is able to access care.

"Community based rehabilitation is kind of a poor cousin in Medicare," Steven Lewis toldSaskatoon Morning hostLeishaGrebinski.

• Physiotherapists urge province to expand services to people on social assistance

Saskatoon Morning was first to break the news that the Saskatchewan Physiotherapy Association is lobbying the provincial government to expand services to reach people on social assistance.The Ministry of Health, in an email to CBC, said it is not currently considering change.

The main problem, according to Lewis, is that, while rehabilitation services are covered, the wait times are so long that the benefits can be minimized, or people give up.

"I would think that there are large groups of people who would probably benefit from more active health care including rehabilitation if they can get it now, and in returnthat would keep people out of nursing homes a little longer and can keep them functionally active a little bit longer."

In the long term, that could save the system money.

Lewis, however, doesn't stop with a call to bring more services to people on social assistance. He suggested there are many people waiting for care.

"You could make the same point for the frail elderly in the community; you could make the same point for people who live in nursing homes the wait times are pretty long for physiotherapy."