Australian private health insurer attitudes towards osteopathy: A qualitative study

Engel, R; Grace, S; Duncan, N; Wade, B; Paterson-Allsop, J; O'Hara, B; Vaughan, B

Australian private health insurer attitudes towards osteopathy: A qualitative study

Engel, R Grace, S Duncan, N Wade, B Paterson-Allsop, J O'Hara, B Vaughan, B

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 2024, 51
Issue Date:: 2024-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Engel, R
dc.contributor.author	Grace, S
dc.contributor.author	Duncan, N
dc.contributor.author	Wade, B
dc.contributor.author	Paterson-Allsop, J
dc.contributor.author	O'Hara, B
dc.contributor.author	Vaughan, B https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8623-4558
dc.date.accessioned	2024-10-08T02:03:46Z
dc.date.available	2024-10-08T02:03:46Z
dc.date.issued	2024-03-01
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 2024, 51
dc.identifier.issn	1746-0689
dc.identifier.issn	1878-0164
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181231
dc.description.abstract	Background: Australian osteopaths predominately work in private practice. The vast majority of patients who present to osteopaths fund their own care, with many receiving a rebate through their private health insurance cover. While there is little that describes the relationship between the Australian osteopathy profession and private health insurers, such information could provide an opportunity for insurers to improve coverage of osteopathy through enhanced benefits. Objectives: To identify the extent of private health insurance cover available for osteopathy and to explore the attitudes of private health insurers towards the Australian osteopathy profession. Methods: This qualitative study used: 1) content analysis of Australian private health insurers offerings for osteopathy, and 2) the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to inform interviews with representatives from Australian private health insurers. The interviews were transcribed and coded with respect to the TDF. Results: Of the 35 private health insurers in Australia, 33 offered benefits for osteopathy. Four interviews were conducted with representatives from the 10 largest private health insurers who provide benefits. Osteopathy represents a very small proportion of their services. The inclusion of osteopathic services is market driven. Private health insurance representatives had limited knowledge and understanding of osteopathy, however, they acknowledged the value that some of their members saw in receiving osteopathic care. Osteopathy is bundled with complementary and allied health services by 91.4% of insurers. Conclusion: Osteopathy is included in the majority of Australian private health insurers’ offerings because the service value-adds to their products. Further research into the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of osteopathy as well as an educational campaign that provides private health insurers with information about the scope of osteopathy are needed to secure its ongoing inclusion in private health insurance in Australia. Implications for practice: • Benefits for osteopathic treatment are covered by most private health insurers in Australia. • Osteopathy is viewed favourably by these insurers. • The findings from this research will inform strategies to secure the ongoing inclusion of benefits for osteopathic treatment by private health insurers in Australia.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ijosm.2023.100689
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
dc.subject.classification	Orthopedics
dc.subject.classification	4208 Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
dc.title	Australian private health insurer attitudes towards osteopathy: A qualitative study
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	51
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/School of Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2024-10-08T02:03:45Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	51

Abstract:

Background: Australian osteopaths predominately work in private practice. The vast majority of patients who present to osteopaths fund their own care, with many receiving a rebate through their private health insurance cover. While there is little that describes the relationship between the Australian osteopathy profession and private health insurers, such information could provide an opportunity for insurers to improve coverage of osteopathy through enhanced benefits. Objectives: To identify the extent of private health insurance cover available for osteopathy and to explore the attitudes of private health insurers towards the Australian osteopathy profession. Methods: This qualitative study used: 1) content analysis of Australian private health insurers offerings for osteopathy, and 2) the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to inform interviews with representatives from Australian private health insurers. The interviews were transcribed and coded with respect to the TDF. Results: Of the 35 private health insurers in Australia, 33 offered benefits for osteopathy. Four interviews were conducted with representatives from the 10 largest private health insurers who provide benefits. Osteopathy represents a very small proportion of their services. The inclusion of osteopathic services is market driven. Private health insurance representatives had limited knowledge and understanding of osteopathy, however, they acknowledged the value that some of their members saw in receiving osteopathic care. Osteopathy is bundled with complementary and allied health services by 91.4% of insurers. Conclusion: Osteopathy is included in the majority of Australian private health insurers’ offerings because the service value-adds to their products. Further research into the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of osteopathy as well as an educational campaign that provides private health insurers with information about the scope of osteopathy are needed to secure its ongoing inclusion in private health insurance in Australia. Implications for practice: • Benefits for osteopathic treatment are covered by most private health insurers in Australia. • Osteopathy is viewed favourably by these insurers. • The findings from this research will inform strategies to secure the ongoing inclusion of benefits for osteopathic treatment by private health insurers in Australia.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181231