New Natural Therapy Provider Registration Process

26th July 2004

 “ To ensure that Natural Therapies and the providers of these services meet professional standards, we advise that the provider registration process for Natural Therapy services, including the issuing of provider numbers, is now managed by the Australian Regional Health Group (ARHG) on behalf of Navy Health Ltd.”

As from 15 September 2004, Natural Therapy services rendered on or after this date will no longer attract a benefit unless the provider is registered by the ARHG. Therefore, if you have previously made a claim for a Natural Therapy service or intend to claim in the future, we recommend that you contact your provider(s) to establish if they are registered with the ARHG for the purpose of attracting Navy Health benefits. 

For a list of recognised providers, ask an ARHG accredited Association for a list of ARHG recognised providers in your local area.  Some associations, for example ANTA (Australian Natural Therapists Association), have websites that enable you to search for an eligible providers by locality.   Click on ARHG Accredited Associations to view a printable list of Accredited ARHG Associations and a list of the therapies that these assocations cover. Click on Natural Therapies- Contact list to view a printable contact list of Accrediated ARHG Associations.

Or, contact Navy Health to determine if your current Natural Therapy provider is recognised by Navy Health for the purposes of benefit payment.

 Please note, not all ARHG recognised providers are members of an ARHG accredited Association.  Providers can register with the ARHG independently.  Providers may contact the ARHG on (03) 9761 3777, or via email at ktaylor@arhg.com.au

 Benefits are applicable to the following Natural Therapy services

 Acupuncture involves the stimulation of specific points on the skin, usually by the insertion of needles. In its original form acupuncture was based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.

 Aromatherapy is the use of volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. Aromatherapists blend therapeutic essential oils specially for each individual, and suggest methods of use such as topical application, massage, inhalation or water immersion, to stimulate the desired responses.

 Homoeopathy is the treatment of disease using very low dose preparations administered according to the principle that "like should be cured with like." Practitioners select a drug that would, if given to a healthy volunteer, cause the presenting symptoms of the patient

 Myotherapy is the treatment of myofascial pain, injury and dysfunction affecting movement and mobility.

 Naturopathy is a way of treating illness which uses the natural healing forces present in the human body. It is a multi-disciplinary approach to health care that recognizes the body's innate power to heal itself. It uses Herbal Medicines, Homoeopathics, Vitamins and Minerals, Flower Essences, Nutritional advice, performance of Massages and other Remedial Body Therapies.

 Remedial Massage Therapy is the manipulation of the soft tissue of whole body areas to bring about generalised improvements in health, such as relaxation or improved sleep, or specific physical benefits, such as relief of muscular aches and pains.

 Remedial Therapy is the use of massage and other techniques, to achieve results ranging from simple relaxation to the treatment of muscle, tendon and ligament injuries. Massage techniques range from Swedish and relaxation massage to specialised massage for athletes, babies and pregnant women. Specialists may also practise Deep Tissue, Shiatsu and Trigger Point Techniques to achieve improvement throughout the body. Aromatherapy and wholistic approaches such as Kinesiology may also be used.

 Chinese Herbal Medicine is based on concepts of yin and yang and of Qi energy. Chinese herbs are ascribed qualities such as "cooling" (yin) or "stimulating" (yang) and used, often in combination, according to the deficiencies or excesses of these qualities in the patient.

 Western Herbal Medicine is the use of plants for healing purposes. Many conventional drugs originate from plant sources. A century ago, most of the few effective drugs were plant based. Examples include aspirin (from willow bark), digoxin (from foxglove), quinine (from cinchona bark), and morphine (from the opium poppy).

 *Definitions provided by ARHG