Health fund rebates for remedial massage: what your website can say

On This Page

1. How recognition works
2. What your website can say
3. Check your wording
4. Safer lines you can use
5. HICAPS and on-the-spot claiming
6. Recognition and website checklist
7. The questions your patients ask
8. My view
9. Questions I get asked

Health fund rebates are one of the main reasons people choose a remedial massage clinic, so most clinic websites mention them. Many do it in ways the funds' own provider terms don't allow: a row of fund logos, "all funds accepted", "no gap", "use your extras before they reset". Every page one result for this search is written for patients. This guide is for the clinic: how recognition works, and what your website can and can't say about rebates.

The rules aren't Ahpra's. Massage therapists aren't registered by Ahpra, so what governs your website is the Australian Consumer Law, your state's code of conduct for health workers, and the terms you agreed to with each fund when you became a recognised provider. This is general information, not legal advice.

How recognition works

Remedial massage is paid by private health insurance extras cover, not Medicare, and only when the therapist is recognised by the patient's fund. Medibank's definition: a benefit is paid only if the patient has eligible cover and the service is provided "by a therapist that's recognised by Medibank and has a current Medibank provider number."

The route is through your professional association, not the funds directly. Bupa: "To apply for recognition, please contact your professional association." HCF says the same. Most smaller and regional funds, including HBF and Teachers Health, use ARHG, which gets member lists from accredited associations. Your association sends your details on, and you get a provider number from each fund.

Funds want broadly the same things, at levels they set:

• A Diploma of Remedial Massage from an Australian training organisation. Bupa, HCF and ARHG don't accept courses done mainly online or by distance, and HCF and ARHG want at least 200 hours of supervised clinical practice in the course.
• Full membership of an association your target funds accept. Student membership doesn't count.
• A current first aid certificate, professional indemnity and public liability insurance covering each location, and yearly professional development.
• Working in private practice.

Not every association is accepted by every fund. HCF doesn't list the Massage Association of Australia, and nib doesn't list CMASA. This is how each fund's own published list looks:

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

As published by each fund; HCF also sets a minimum membership level for each association. Lists change, so check your fund's own page before you rely on it.

Remedial massage was never on the government's list of natural therapies excluded from health fund rebates. Aromatherapy, reflexology and Bowen therapy still are, which matters for how you name your services, as you'll see below.

What your website can say

Rebates, gaps and "free"

A rebate depends on the patient's own policy, their limits, and which therapist they see, so a blanket promise isn't yours to make. The ACCC's rule is that "It makes no difference whether a business intends to mislead or not", and that leaving out important details can mislead too. In one case, the Federal Court penalised an aligner company over messages telling customers they might get money back from their health fund, when most funds didn't cover the treatment.

• "No gap" or "fully claimable" isn't something you can promise. HBF's terms, for example, say the member pays any amount above the benefit, and the benefit can't exceed what you charge.
• Waiving or absorbing the gap runs into Medibank's rule against claims for costs "directly or indirectly funded by you". Discounts have to be itemised on the receipt, which lowers the claim too.
• "Free massage with your health fund" is a "free" claim with conditions attached, which the ACCC treats as likely to mislead.
• "Use your extras before they reset" encourages "indiscriminate or unnecessary use", which Bupa's and Medibank's terms bar.
• One price for everyone. HCF and HBF require you not to charge members more than other patients, so no separate "health fund price".
• No claiming fee. Bupa's terms bar charging members a fee for processing their claim.

Fund names and logos

Bupa allows one phrase: "when promoting your services you may refer to yourself as a 'Bupa Recognised Provider'". Anything else that refers to Bupa needs its written consent. Medibank, nib, HCF and HBF all restrict their names and logos too; HCF specifically bars "representing that the Recognised Provider is endorsed by HCF". So a row of fund logos needs written permission from every fund on it. A plain text line is the safer pattern, and only if it's true for every therapist it covers.

One clause catches websites in particular. Bupa's terms bar, without its approval, marketing that involves "keywords constituting or incorporating the word 'Bupa'", including search engine marketing and "search engine optimisation". So no "Bupa massage [suburb]" ad groups, and think twice about page titles built around a fund's name. Target "remedial massage [suburb] health fund rebates" instead.

Remedial, relaxation and excluded therapies

Funds pay for treatment of a condition. Relaxation massage isn't that, so don't suggest it's claimable; label it "not claimable on health funds". And the Department of Health says benefits can't be paid where an excluded therapy like aromatherapy or reflexology is "advertised or promoted as such". "Aromatherapy massage, health fund rebates available" is a problem. A remedial session that genuinely includes essential oils is different.

Therapists and students

Provider numbers are personal. ARHG's letter to clinic owners: a provider number "can only be used for services provided by the therapist to which the number is assigned. There are no exceptions", and owners and practice managers can be held responsible for misuse. HCF, HBF and nib don't pay for students. So mark recognition on each therapist's profile, and never write "student clinic, rebates available".

Claims about results

The state codes of conduct for health workers bar claims you can't substantiate, and NSW's code bars misrepresenting your "qualifications, training or professional affiliations". ARHG's accreditation terms go further: a provider "must not claim to cure any condition", though you can say you "assist, relieve, and/or improve" ailments. So "may help relieve muscle tension" is fine; "cures sciatica" isn't, and neither is "Ahpra registered", because massage isn't an Ahpra profession.

NSW: the code goes on your website

If you practise in NSW, the code of conduct for unregistered health practitioners requires you to display the code and information on how to complain to the Health Care Complaints Commission, at your premises "or" on your website if you have one. The safest reading for a clinic with a website is to have both: a "Code of conduct and complaints" page linked from the footer.

Check your wording

Paste your rebates page, service menu or an ad, and I'll flag phrases that cross the funds' or the ACCC's lines.

It catches common phrases, not every way of saying something. If a line is close, use the safer wording.

Safer lines you can use

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

The gift voucher line matters because funds pay only after the treatment is given: Bupa's terms bar using benefits as a deposit or claiming before the service is provided in full.

HICAPS and on-the-spot claiming

HICAPS, owned by NAB, says it can process claims for all Australian private health funds, though "Not every health fund allows for every service to be processed through your HICAPS terminal." Each therapist registers on the terminal under their own provider number. Tyro Health is the main alternative, and both connect to practice software like Cliniko, Halaxy, Nookal and Zanda. Don't keep patients' fund cards or card numbers: Bupa's and HBF's terms bar it, so don't ask for them on your online booking form either.

Recognition and website checklist

For a sole trader or a new clinic. Your ticks save in this browser.

The questions your patients ask

A short FAQ on your own site answers what patients search for, without promising what you can't control:

• Does health insurance cover remedial massage? Usually, with extras cover that includes it, when the therapist is recognised by your fund. Your rebate depends on your policy.
• Is remedial massage covered by Medicare? No.
• Can I claim on the spot? Yes, for most funds, if the therapist you see is recognised. Bring your card.
• Is relaxation massage claimable? No; funds pay for treatment of a condition.

My view

Health fund rebates sell remedial massage, and that's fine to say, accurately. The safest rebates page is short: who on your team is recognised, that rebates depend on the patient's cover, that you can claim on the spot for most funds, and that relaxation massage isn't claimable. Leave out the logos, the gap promises and the end-of-year push, and you'll keep your provider numbers and your patients' trust.

Questions I get asked

How do I become a health fund provider for remedial massage?

Through your professional association. With a Diploma of Remedial Massage, full membership, first aid, insurance and yearly professional development, your association sends your details to the funds, and each issues you a provider number.

Can I put health fund logos on my website?

Not without each fund's written permission. Bupa allows the phrase "Bupa Recognised Provider"; other uses of fund names and logos are restricted.

Can I say "no gap" for health fund members?

Not as a blanket promise. The rebate depends on each patient's cover, and waiving or absorbing the gap runs into the funds' terms.

Do massage therapists need to follow Ahpra's advertising rules?

No, massage therapists aren't registered by Ahpra. The Australian Consumer Law, your state's code of conduct for health workers and the funds' provider terms apply instead.

Can students claim health fund rebates?

No. Provider numbers are personal to the recognised therapist, and HCF, HBF and nib don't pay for services by students.