❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Health Minister regarding qualifications of alternative medicine practitioners and Medicare reimbursement. The Minister acknowledges the pressure for Medicare rebates but prioritises service quality and safety.
AnsweredQoN 847Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
847. Hon Giz Watson to the Attorney General representing the Minister for Health:
In respect of qualifications for practitioners of homoeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy and acupuncture and the denial of Medicare reimbursement for non-medical specialists in these fields -
(1) Is the Minister for Health aware that the West Australian Medical Registration Board cannot provide Medicare with the names of registrants who are qualified to provide these non-medical services?
(2) Is the Minister aware of questions asked of the Federal Minister for Health relating to reimbursement for these non-medical services?
In respect of qualifications for practitioners of homoeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy and acupuncture and the denial of Medicare reimbursement for non-medical specialists in these fields -
(1) Is the Minister for Health aware that the West Australian Medical Registration Board cannot provide Medicare with the names of registrants who are qualified to provide these non-medical services?
(2) Is the Minister aware of questions asked of the Federal Minister for Health relating to reimbursement for these non-medical services?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 November 2000
Response time
62 days
The Minister Replied:
(1) The role of the Medical Board of Western Australia is to determine the eligibility of persons to become registered medical practitioners in Western Australia. The Board's role does not extend to determining whether medical practitioners are able to practise homoeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy or acupuncture.
(2) The Minister is aware of pressures for the Commonwealth to make the professional services, referred to in the question, eligible for rebates under the Medicare Benefits Schedule. The Minister is anxious that service quality and safety are at the forefront of Commonwealth decision making about the eligibility of services to attract Medicare rebates.
(1) The role of the Medical Board of Western Australia is to determine the eligibility of persons to become registered medical practitioners in Western Australia. The Board's role does not extend to determining whether medical practitioners are able to practise homoeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy or acupuncture.
(2) The Minister is aware of pressures for the Commonwealth to make the professional services, referred to in the question, eligible for rebates under the Medicare Benefits Schedule. The Minister is anxious that service quality and safety are at the forefront of Commonwealth decision making about the eligibility of services to attract Medicare rebates.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.