The federal government has just announced that they are updating their natural therapies review for private Health insurance rebates. This includes an update on the NHMRC review of natural therapies (2014-15)
This review is to be led by the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy. Joining him on the panel is Associate Professor of Public Health Jon Wardle from UTS. It is expected this will take place mid 2019, with it being completed in 2020. This is regardless of any outcome from the imminent federal election.
ARONAH are very pleased to hear this news and welcomes this review of the evidence. Jackie Arbuckle, chair of ARONAH, states that “ARONAH is optimistic that this new review will better capture the large body of evidence that encompasses naturopathy and Western Herbal medicine in particular. As a profession, we knew it existed, and now we are hopeful it will be included as it should have been in the original reportâ€
Although any changes that result from this updated evidence are unlikely to take effect until at least 12 months from now, it is a very positive step forward for naturopathy and Western herbal medicine to be hopefully reinstated for Private Health Insurance rebates.
“ARONAH would like to thank the federal government for listening not only to us, but to all the naturopathic associations, as well as the hundreds of practitioners and patients who have written or spoken to their local members. People power at its finest.” Jackie Arbuckle, chair of ARONAH.
If you would like to read the original government media release – issued by Health Minister Greg Hunt, then click here (120kb PDF)