A national online survey of accredited members
ATMS Survey: Perspectives on the reinstatement of health fund rebates for naturopathy and Western Herbal Medicine
A national online survey of accredited members
Annie Gibbins | CEO ATMS Professor Sandra Grace | Director ATMS Board
Introduction
The Natural Therapies Review Expert Advisory Panel( NTREAP) review was commissioned by the Australian Government in 2019 to assess the clinical effectiveness of 16 natural therapies that had been previously excluded from private health fund rebates.( 1) The review aimed to inform the government on whether these therapies were supported by credible evidence of clinical effectiveness. The review involved a series of evidence evaluations of each therapy and included stakeholder input through public submissions and webinars. The NTREAP recommendations were submitted to the Health Minister, the Honourable Mark Butler, who subsequently approved the recommendations.
On 1 July 2025, the Australian Government officially reinstated seven natural therapies as eligible for private health insurance rebates, following amendments to the Private Health Insurance legislation.( 2) The seven therapies now eligible for inclusion in private health cover are: Alexander Technique, Naturopathy, Pilates, Shiatsu, Tai Chi, Western Herbalism and Yoga. This landmark change follows years of collective advocacy and the findings of the NTREAP, led by Professor Michael Kidd, confirming the clinical benefits of these therapies.
Although these therapies are now eligible for private health insurance rebates, it remains up to each private health insurer to determine whether they will offer cover, when that coverage will start, what level of benefits will apply and what practitioner qualifications and item codes will be required.
Private Healthcare Australia( PHA) is the peak representative body of the private health insurance industry in Australia.( 3) ATMS is actively engaged with the PHA Natural Therapies Working Group and leading insurers to shape these next steps and advocate on behalf of its members. However, the current views of ATMS accredited naturopaths and Western herbal medicine practitioners on the reinstatement of private health fund rebates is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to inform ATMS’ advocacy efforts during current health fund consultations on item code development and to support the development of practical and equitable funding models for natural therapies.
Methods
The CEO, Annie Gibbins, developed an online survey using the Survey Monkey platform to collect information requested by the PHA group. The survey was piloted by the ATMS Executive Committee and their feedback was incorporated. The final survey, comprising 18 closed questions and 3 open-ended questions, took 3-5 minutes to complete.
Recruitment Invitations to participate in the online survey were distributed to ATMS members via a link during a members’ Webinar on 4 July( see Figure 1). The webinar outlined what the recent private health insurance amendment legislation meant for members’ practices, ATMS’ activities on their behalf to lead this next phase, and how members could help shape the future of health fund rebates for natural medicine. Invitations to the survey were also sent via Wise-n-Well, ATMS’ s monthly online newsletter, on 23 July 2025. The survey was open from 4 July 2025 to 14 August 2025.
130 | vol31 | no3 | JATMS