Australian public health pays for voo-doo nonsense

[Djinn]

I'd always assumed that the billions spent on "alt-med" (I really hate that term - it's medicine or it's NOT) in Australia came of the pockets of the credulous themselves, have just discovered that our over stretched and underfunded national health service WILL actually rebate you for chiropractor visits, homeopathy consultations and a host of other complete nonsense.

I only looked after discovering the NHS (which as a dual citizen I'm also contributing to) in the UK funds this kind of nonsense and thought to myself "surely this can not be true of Australia" - what in the hell is going on?

How do governments justify spending health dollars on thoroughly debunked mumbo jumbo?

If Americans ever do get a national health service I hope to Cluthu you can avoid funding this shite.

[beam me up scottie]

1. It's too late for us, I'm afraid.

We're already paying for "complementary" treatments in hospitals and almost every employer-provided health insurance plan covers chiropractic "care".
The anti-vaccination lobby is very powerful and woo peddlers from every discipline are jumping on the bandwagon.

Anti-intellectualism is as American as Toby Keith and Nascar.

I'm glad Carl Sagan didn't live to see what we've done to science.

[Djinn]

2. Cluthu in heaven that's even worse

at least our medical coverage is considerably cheaper - reckon I'd be coming over all unibomer-ish if my extortionately expensive health "insurance" was subsidising this crap.

How can US "health" plans (I hate the way I'm forced to use quotes because language has been so abused) refuse to pay for, or make it inordinately difficult to get treatment that has been through the rigors of actual scientific testing yet they happily pay for quackery.

I'd mostly ignored the woo-woos (I'm REALLY liking that term btw) until recently, figuring as an anarchist I should leave people to believe whatever nonsense they chose - was no harm to me or mine but have been astounded at recently discovering how much governments worldwide give credence to outright quackery. Frankly just confirms my belief in anarchism - governments will throw our money away on any bullshit as long as there's vote's in it

[TZ]

3. Frankly as someone who has health issues and battles

health insurance companies constantly..Even if our government paid for woo woo shit, I would rather have something like the NHS here.
I have a drug that considered "experimental" so I have to battle tooth and claw to get the insurance to pay for it. If it means paying for that nonsense along with paying for stuff like what I'm taking (prescribed by a doctor from the Mayo clinic) than I will accept the woo woo bullshit for those who want it.

[Djinn]

5. you wouldn't neccesarily get access under the NHS either

In Australia (and UK) experimental drugs need to pass large hurdles to show they're significantly better than what is currently available before they're subsidised by the govt.

True ANY system would be better than the shit you have now but national health isn't perfect

[TZ]

6. True. However..

as far as I can tell you all don't have bean counters trying to practice medicine...I have the Mayo clinic on my side which helps alot...but I'm tired of insurance idiots who don't have a clue except about "costs" trying to guide my health.

[beam me up scottie]

4. It's even worse than that.

A large company my brother worked for sent injured workers to a chiropractor for diagnosis and treatment.

When he fell and smacked his head they told him to DRIVE HIMSELF to the quack. I'm glad he called me first, I took him to my regular physician and she explained that they cannot force you to see a chiropractor.

I called the labor board and explained that the injury was documented and there were witnesses and they contacted his employer.

Everything was covered under workman's comp and the company was forced to change their policy, if you were injured at work, you would be able to choose from several local doctors or go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room. And a member of management had to drive you there (unless it was serious enough to call an ambulance, of course).

One of my bosses was partially paralyzed thanks to a chiropractor, the surgeons had to fuse several vertebrae in his neck.

He was 19 years old at the time.

He sued and won, but all the money in the world wouldn't compensate for a lifetime of pain and partial disability.

[kimmerspixelated]

7. Maybe they don't believe it's mumbo jumbo.