Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care endorses recommendations of the Natural Therapies Review

Yesterday, a press release from Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care, stated “The Albanese Government has accepted the recommendations of the Natural Therapies Review….. The following 7 natural therapies will be returned [for inclusion in eligible health fund rebates]:

• Yoga
• Pilates
• Tai chi
• Shiatsu
• Naturopathy
• Western herbal medicine
• Alexander Technique”

Mark Butler Press Release, 14.04.2025 (link)

The steps involved in getting our health fund rebates back are:

• Completion of the Natural Therapies Review – done
• Natural Therapies Review recommendation that Pilates be re-included for health fund rebates – done
• Agreement by the Health Minister to accept the recommendations under 2) – now done. We were concerned that this step would not occur until after the election but the press release states “The Government accepted the recommendations before caretaker conventions.”
• Changes to Circular 69/18 that prevents health fund rebates being paid by the health funds – this will need to be done once a new government is in place, as is alluded to in Mark Butler’s press release, “Relevant updates to regulations will be made following the election.”
• Health Funds to decide to re-include health fund rebates. As Mark Butler states: ”Coverage of natural therapies remains a decision for insurers. Insurers which choose to cover the therapies will work with the natural therapies sector on coverage and to re-establish provider credentialing.”

 

Credentialing is defined as “a process used to verify the qualifications and experience of a clinician to determine their ability to provide safe, high quality health care services within a specific health care setting and role. Credentialing has the potential to improve safety for patients by ensuring clinicians practice within the bounds of their training and competency, and within the capacity of the service in which they are working. Credentialing is part of a wider organisational quality and risk-management system designed primarily to protect patients.

Source: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/clinical-governance/credentialing-clinicians

 

This means that we still have some work ahead of us to convince health funds to reinstate benefits and to define exactly what is covered.

The government has committed to ensuring a timely re-inclusion of benefits for these therapies, aiming for coverage to be available as soon as possible. The timing, however, will be dependent on agreement by the health funds and their ability to incorporate these benefits into their systems.

The PAA is thrilled with this latest development as it signifies renewed support for Pilates as an effective health modality.

Robyn Rix, PAA President