Brisbane-based health body calls for GST reform
Brisbane’s peak body for exercise physiologists is calling for the Federal Government to overhaul charges in the industry.
Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)’s chief says patients are having to cough up more GST for exercise physiology treatments, whereas physiotherapy and acupuncture remain GST-free.
This was despite three decades of peer-reviewed science shows that exercise physiology is one of Australia’s fastest growing professions, delivering services to more than 243,000 Australians each week, she said.
ESSA CEO Katie Lyndon said Australians with chronic disease, disability, injury and mental health conditions were paying the price of the Federal Government’s inaction.
“[They] pay an additional 10 per cent for clinically prescribed healthcare, that is proven to reduce hospital admissions and readmissions,” Lyndon said.
When GST began in 2000, exercise physiology was an emerging profession and therefore was not included in the schedule of GST health services.
Now the organisation said there were 9,800 physiologists accredited nationwide, 2,556 of which work in Queensland (the second highest only to New South Wales).
“Conditions where physical activity, supported by our profession, can help include mental health, osteoporosis, dementia, cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer,” Lyndon said.
In 2006, the practice was recognised under Medicare and integrated across the NDIS, DVA and private health insurance, making Australia the first country to embed clinical exercise and accredited exercise physiologists in healthcare funding frameworks.
“The Federal Government itself recommends the health benefits of exercise, yet this tax treats tailored exercise programs as a luxury – and it’s Australians with challenging health conditions who are paying the cost,” Lyndon says.
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She added that people working to manage and improve their health with Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) support should not be penalised just because the tax system has not kept pace.
“Exercise physiology is regularly referred through Medicare, the NDIS, Department of Veterans’ Affairs private health insurance, and the aged care system, yet the tax system fails to reflect that,” she said.
ESSA is calling on federal Health Minister Mark Butler to add exercise physiology to the list of GST-exempt health services.
Last week exercise physiology was included in the expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payment, which will see grants for students of allied health professions expanded.
The Minister was approached for comment.
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