Story: Health practitioners

ACC funding

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) funds treatments for accident injuries by acupuncturists, chiropractors and osteopaths, who are considered alternative health practitioners by many people. People who want to use other alternative practitioners find it difficult to get ACC funding. In 1994 Sally O'Mara paid Australian therapist Ian Hunter to treat her brain-damaged son Jamie. He used a special exercise programme that was seen as alternative. ACC did not fund this treatment because it did not have what they described as international validity. O'Mara said it was the only treatment that had ever helped Jamie.

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How to cite this page:

Allison Kirkman, 'Health practitioners - Alternative health practitioners', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/28341/acc-funding (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Allison Kirkman, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 23 Apr 2018