Physiotherapy from the view of health insurance financing

Physiotherapy lacks studies performed with the use of the modern research methodology and, therefore, its use based on empirical considerations. International practice guidelines do not recommend unequivocally the use of all kinds of physiotherapy with the exception of exercise therapy, but Hungarian guidelines support its use in the treatment of several different conditions. National health insurance in Hungary provides financial support for the use of physiotherapy in the fields of home care, out- and inpatient care and spa treatment. In 2011 national health insurance in Hungary supported spa treatments with 4 billion HUF, and the most frequently used treatment was thermal bath in about 2 million occasions. National health insurance in Hungary spent about 1 billion HUF for physiotherapy used in outpatient care; both ultrasound and interference treatments were financed in 2 million occasions in 2011.