Naturopathy services policy

Who can provide naturopathy services

The WorkSafe Agent (the agent) can only pay for naturopathy services provided by healthcare professionals who are:

• registered by WorkSafe to provide naturopathy services
• able to provide eligibility for membership with one of the following organisations:
  • Australian Natural Therapists Association (Naturopath)
  • Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association
  • Complementary Medicine Association, and
• able to provide evidence of current professional indemnity insurance. Further information on WorkSafe's required level of professional indemnity insurance can be found on WorkSafe’s Application for Registration to Provide Services to Workers.

WorkSafe expectations for the delivery of acupuncture services

WorkSafe expects that all naturopaths providing services to workers as part of the Victorian Workers' Compensation Scheme integrate the principles of the Clinical framework for the delivery of health services to injured workers (Clinical Framework) into their daily practice.

The Clinical Framework is based on the following principles:

1. measurable treatment effectiveness must be demonstrated
2. a biopsychosocial approach is essential for the management of pain
3. treatment must focus on empowering the worker to manager their injury
4. treatment goals must be functional and focused on return to work
5. treatment must be based on the best evidence available

Referral requirements

A medical practitioner must provide a request for naturopathy services prior to commencement of treatment:

• WorkSafe considers naturopathy to be a referred service. A request from a medical practitioner must therefore be provided.
• Referred services include all approved health services with the exception of medical, chiropractic, physiotherapy, osteopathic, optometry, dental and podiatry services.

No referral to other health services:

• WorkSafe does not allow naturopaths to provide referrals to other health services.

How much the agent can pay

The agent can pay the reasonable costs of naturopathy services up to the maximum amount as detailed in WorkSafe's Naturopathy services fee schedule.

What the agent can pay for

The agent can pay the reasonable costs of naturopathy services that meet all of the following criteria:

• treatment is for a work-related injury or illness
• the provider is currently registered as an naturopath with WorkSafe
• a medical practitioner has provided a request for treatment
• the service is in line with the principles of the Clinical Framework

What the agent will not pay for

• non-attendance/cancellation:
  • the agent will not pay for appointments where the worker cancels or does not attend
• telephone conversations:
  • the agent will not pay for telephone consultations or conversations, either to the worker or other related parties (such as the employer, WorkSafe or other healthcare professionals)
• more than one consultation on the same day:
  • the agent will not pay for more than one naturopathy consultation provided on the same day to the same worker
• provision of more than one allied health service on the same day:
  • where a naturopath is registered with WorkSafe for more than one allied health service (for example, naturopathy and remedial massage), the agent will not pay for the provision of more than one service type to the worker on the same day
• items not registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG):
  • medicines and complementary medicines that are not registered with the ARTG will not be accepted. Refer to WorkSafe's pharmacy policy for more information

items provided by alternative therapists:

• alternative therapists are not approved to provide these services
• complementary medicines must be supplied by a registered pharmacist and on the request of a medical practitioner or registered dentist to be accepted by WorkSafe

Suspended from providing services to WorkSafe clients

If WorkSafe gives notice to a provider advising them that they are suspended from providing services to WorkSafe clients, WorkSafe will notify their professional body of the suspension and the grounds on which the suspension has been issued.