SPINAL CONSERVATIVE CARE

Discovery now offers conservative back pain management, which has proven to deliver successful outcomes. 
Spinal Surgery Alternative  

“When living with pain becomes normal, it’s strange to now be able to live without pain.”

WHAT IS THE SPINAL CONSERVATIVE CARE PROGRAMME?

The Spinal Conservative Care Programme is a coordinated out-of-hospital programme for the conservative treatment of spinal pain. The programme offers you cover for and access to: • A network of physiotherapists and chiropractors who are trained in the management of spinal pain, supported by a network of spinal surgeons, where applicable. 

 

 A focused programme developed by experts in the conservative (non-surgical) management of back pain. The programme is flexible, providing a combination of in-person and virtual care, as deemed necessary by the therapists, and may be overseen by a spinal surgeon in the network. This programme will help you manage your condition with the support of a network of healthcare professionals that specialise in the treatment and rehabilitation of back and neck pain.

 

You may qualify as a possible candidate for the Spinal Conservative Care Programme for conservative back or neck pain management subject to clinical entry criteria and after a recent hospital stay or request for hospital admission, related to a spinal admission. Where the criteria are met you will have the option of visiting one of Discovery’s conservative care network healthcare professionals for an assessment for enrolment on the programme. 

WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO MANAGE YOUR CONDITION

Once enrolled, the Spinal Conservative Care Programme with AHA Medical, you will receive 6 to 12 weeks of specialized treatment. These sessions can be conducted face-to-face or through the Discovery Connected Care online platform. 

You can choose to consult either a network physiotherapist or a network chiropractor for your treatment. Your treating healthcare professional will decide what is best for you and your condition. Once enrolled we cover the consultation fee with your healthcare professional in full and cover will not affect your day-to-day benefits, where applicable. Any additional conservative healthcare services outside of the sessions approved as part of the defined basket of care, will be covered in accordance with the benefits on your chosen health plan.

YOUR COVER ON THE PROGRAMME

AS A DISCOVERY MEDICAL AID MEMBER

If you are enrolled on the Spinal Conservative Care Programme:

  •  Any additional conservative healthcare services, outside of the sessions approved as part of the defined basket of care, will be covered in accordance with your chosen health plan benefits. 
  • If you change conservative care network providers, we continue counting the sessions from where you left off with your first healthcare professional. Your cover does not reset with the new provider.
  • If you stop the programme, we do not pay further fees.
  • Where clinically appropriate, your conservative care network provider can refer you for further assessment with a network spinal surgeon. If you need to have surgery, the conservative care programme will end.
  • Members are eligible for the Spinal Conservative Care Programme only once per year, even if your condition recurs or a new area of concern arises. 
  • Members who have had spinal surgery in the past 24 months do not qualify for the programme.
  • This programme excludes emergencies, oncology, congenital and trauma-related injuries.
  • These are covered according to the benefits on your chosen health plan.