2019 Health Fund Reform 

In October 2017, the Federal Government announced some changes to the Health Fund rebates which impacted rebates for yoga and other natural therapies. From 1st April 2019, yoga was removed from all health fund lists. Since the announcement in October 2017, Yoga Australia has taken the following actions:

1. Met with Minister Hunt’s (Minister for Health and Sport) principal advisor, Alex Caroly;
2. Participated in media interviews and issued a statement to the Media;
3. Contacted all our yoga friendly health funds to encourage them to continue the rebates for yoga;
4. Partnered with other Natural Therapies organisations to lobby the government together;
5. Encouraged our members and yoga practitioners to contact their local Members of Parliament to lobby yoga to remain as a health fund rebate; and
6. Continued to collate relevant research that shows the benefit of yoga. We worked with our local teachers, educations institutions and International partners to collate relevant research. Some of these are currently on our website.

As a result of the above actions, yoga is now part of the Federal Government’s $2M review of natural therapies. Information on the Natural Therapies Review 2019-20 can be found on the Department of Health Website. This review will examine additional evidence which has emerged since the 2014-15 review and provide advice to Government on whether any of the natural therapies should be covered by private health insurance and therefore eligible for a subsidy through the Private Health Insurance Rebate.

Our past President, Leanne Davis and Council of Advisor for Yoga Australia is part of the Natural Therapies Review Expert Advisory Panel (NTREAP) as an expert in Yoga, Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. The terms of reference of the NTREAP can be found on the Department of Health website. The primary role of the NTREAP is to support the Natural Therapies Review 2019-20 by providing advice to the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, concerning the 16 excluded natural therapies on:

• Any additional evidence of their effectiveness published since 2014-15 review or high-quality evidence not included in the 2014-15 review to be assessed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC); and
• The reports on evidence evaluation to be provided by the NHMRC

In addition to the above Yoga Australia is a stakeholder of the Natural Therapies 2019-20 review. As stakeholders, we are invited to regular meetings with the Department of Health to receive updates on the Natural Therapies 2019-20 review and the outcomes of the NTREAP meetings. These meetings are held using a teleconference facility. 

The Natural Therapies Review 2019 – 20 is supported by the NHMRC. The NHMRC has established the Natural Therapies Working Committee to provide oversight of the conduct of the evidence evaluations as part of the review.

Yoga Australia will keep its members informed as things progress with the Natural Therapies Review 2019 – 2020.