The launch of a controversial website enabling NIB customers to score the performance of Australian allied health practitioners has been delayed.

The health fund planned to launch its online service, Whitecoat.com.au, in late June but this week confirmed the site has been shelved while concerns are allayed.

“NIB has delayed the launch of Whitecoat so any issues raised concerning the website can be fully addressed,” a spokesman said.

The move comes after the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency said it would monitor the site amid concerns it could breach the HealthPractitioner Regulation National Law Act. The act prohibits the use of testimonial advertising while breaches carry a maximum penalty of $10,000.

The site has also come under fire for its initial plan to use Medicare Australia information to create its list of 165,000 allied health practitioners.

The NIB spokesman would not reveal when the site would go live but said the company remained committed to its launch.

“It (NIB) strongly believes that Whitecoat will empower consumers by allowing them to make informed decisions about their health care,” he said.

“NIB is working with Medicare, the government and healthcare professional associations to allay any concerns they may have concerning Whitecoat.”

NIB planned to list practitioners’ information based on a range of sources including Medicare data.

But the health fund has now stated: “NIB doesn’t intend to publish any Medicare data on the Whitecoat website”.