NICM applauds reinstatement of private health insurance rebates for seven natural therapies
Leading scientists from the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) say the reinstatement of private health insurance rebates for seven natural therapies marks a significant step toward the broader recognition of evidence-based complementary medicine in Australia’s healthcare system.
The Advisory Panel for the Natural Therapies Review 2024 researched 16 natural therapies excluded from rebates and found seven had sufficient evidence behind them to justify their return, being Alexander Technique, naturopathy, Pilates, shiatsu, tai chi, western herbal medicine and yoga.
NICM Director Professor Dennis Chang said the return of rebates for these therapies was long overdue.
"The outcome of the Review is significant because it not only reinstates support for these therapies but also acknowledges the growing body of high-quality research that confirms their safety and effectiveness," Professor Chang said.
"Naturopathy, tai chi, western herbal medicine and yoga form part of NICM’s research focus and are increasingly supported by scientific evidence for managing chronic diseases and improving overall wellbeing."
Since April 2019, private health insurers were unable to offer cover for these natural therapies, following a controversial 2015 Federal Government review that found there was insufficient evidence to support their use.
Located within the southern hemisphere’s largest health and medical precinct at Westmead, NICM is Australia’s leader in integrative and complementary medicine research and policy. The Institute is dedicated to the rigorous scientific evaluation of the quality, safety and effectiveness of natural and traditional therapies.
NICM researchers have led and continue undertake high quality systematic reviews of herbal medicine and naturopathic practices, including contribution to the development of clinical practice guidelines for polycystic ovary syndrome.
Dr Guoyan (Emily) Yang, Research Support Program Fellow in Healthy Ageing at NICM and internationally recognised expert in tai chi, leads the Institute’s tai chi research and clinical program.
A 2022 study led by Dr Yang found tai chi significantly improved psychological wellbeing and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease, while another NICM-authored paper concluded tai chi provided some indication of clinically meaningful benefits across conditions such as Parkinson's disease, falls risk, knee osteoarthritis, low back pain, cerebrovascular, and cardiovascular diseases.
"This move reinforces the vital role of research in advancing integrative medicine," Professor Chang said.
"While this decision is encouraging, it also highlights the need for continued, high-quality studies to further substantiate therapeutic claims, especially for chronic conditions where conventional treatment options are limited or lacking."
He added that reinstating rebates would help facilitate broader access, strengthen policy development, and support the integration of evidence-based complementary therapies into mainstream healthcare.
Emeritus Professor Alan Bensoussan, NICM’s Foundation Director, and a member of the Advisory Panel for the Review, said the review considered new clinical evidence published since 2015, as well as high-quality studies previously published.
"Our aim was to ensure the review was based on the most current and credible scientific evidence," Professor Bensoussan said.
"This provides a stronger foundation for the natural therapies sector to advance evidence-based practice and guide future research.
"This review will enable the natural therapies industry to better utilise the research undertaken and strengthen current clinical practice and future work."
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