Fully qualified naturopaths to be added to the allied health referral system so patients can claim Medicare rebates

Hi, i'm Nikki Warren and I believe fully qualified naturopaths can add a lot of value to the Australian public health system by providing preventative and complementary care at a primary care level. I also believe complementary and alternative medicine should be affordable and accessible to everyone. Currently, patients with chronic health conditions such as asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and musculoskeletal conditions can obtain a referral from their general practitioner to see an allied health professional for 5 visits and receive a Medicare rebate. The allied health professionals currently included in this program are:


Aboriginal health workers
audiologists
chiropractors
diabetes educators
dietitians
exercise physiologists
mental health workers
occupational therapists
osteopaths
physiotherapists
podiatrists
psychologists
speech pathologists

I have been a naturopath for the last 5 years and have seen the scientific evidence supporting natural therapies grow immensely during this time. I believe the burden on hospitals and general practitioners would be drastically reduced by introducing preventative or complementary and alternative care at a primary care level. It would also increase communication between doctors and naturopaths which is important to avoid drug-herb or drug-supplement interactions.