Health
Fund Rebate Update
HypnosisAustralia,
November 2006
By
Dr Tracie O'Keefe DCH, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist &
Counsellor
Editorial Director of HypnosisAustralia Online.
We sent one
of our reporters undercover to approach many of the hypnotherapy associations
to find out which associations had got to grips with health fund rebates
for hypnotherapy, counselling and psychotherapy for the clients of their
registrants. The results were enlightening and showed the true state of
the profession with regard to health fund rebates. We are very sad to
say that not one single association came out with flying colours.
Some associations
simply responded to potential clients by saying they did not know anything
about private health funds. Another association's officer responded by
saying that they were as confused about health funds as was the client
and suggested a website that give the potential client absolutely no information
whatsoever. A further association sent a list of health funds and when
we contacted some of those health funds they did not offer such rebates.
Despite our potential client contacting some associations several times
they received no response even though they had left answer-phone messages
and sent e-mails.
The worst
of the associations was Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
(PACFA) that sent out a list of 37 health funds. When we telephoned many
of the associations they said they had never even heard of PACFA and that
they offered no such rebates.
This total
confusion over health fund rebates can only be one more reason why hypnotherapists
in Australia ought to most logically be working together. A rambling profusion
of hypnotherapy organisations in Australia rarely produces common good.
©HypnosisAustralia,
November 2006
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