PDF version: Terms of Reference – Contracting and Default Benefits Working Group of the Private Health Ministerial Advisory Committee (PDF 82 KB)

Purpose

The Contracting and Default Benefits Working Group (the Working Group) brings together key stakeholders with expertise in the private health insurer/hospital contracting environment to work in partnership on the development of possible reforms to contracting and private health insurance default benefit arrangements.

The Working Group has a key role in advising the Private Health Ministerial Advisory Committee (the Committee) on possible reforms to contracting, minimum and second-tier default benefits.

Functions

The role of the Working Group is to provide advice to the Committee on possible reforms covering:

• private health insurer/hospital contracting arrangements;
• the Commonwealth-determined minimum default benefit;
• the Commonwealth-determined second-tier default benefit; and
• other related issues as directed by the Committee.

Noting that the Working Group may not come to agreement on all issues, members of the Working Group commit to:

• acting in a collegiate and collaborative manner when discussing and resolving issues; and
• respecting the confidentiality of Working Group and Committee procedures.

The Working Group will report to the Committee.

External Support

The Working Group may be supported through the commissioning of external advice (through the Department of Health) if required. The Working Group Chair must first seek agreement from the Committee Chair.

Membership

The Working Group is chaired by Mr Steve Somogyi. Members are appointed for their private health industry knowledge, and expertise and experience in private health sector contracting.

With the Working Group Chair’s prior approval, individuals and organisations who are not members may be invited to participate in the Working Group discussions where they have particular knowledge, expertise or experience.

A quorum for a meeting is the Chair and half the Working Group membership plus one. A quorum of members must be present before a meeting can proceed. A member who is unable to attend a meeting should advise the Chair and the Secretariat as soon as possible.

Confidentiality

Members are required to sign confidentiality agreements and declare any real or potential conflicts of interests at the commencement of each meeting. All working group members have an obligation to maintain confidence of all matters arising within the working group and to maintain this confidence even after their membership of the Working Group has expired. Working Group members are specifically obligated to refrain from making any comment or statement concerning any working group matter to any member of the media. The Chair of the Committee or the Committee secretariat will coordinate all media contact.

Timing

The Working Group will meet in person or via teleconference. The Working Group is expected to meet approximately three times during February and March 2017. The Working Group can meet more or less frequently if required, and will report to the Committee.

Decisions and consideration of issues can be made out of session by the Working Group including by teleconference or videoconference.

Secretariat

The Department of Health will provide the required level of secretariat support for the Chair and the Working Group. Papers will be distributed to the Working Group members at least five working days before a Working Group meeting, except with the Chair’s agreement. The agenda for meetings will be agreed between the Chair of the Working Group and the Secretariat. The Chair and/or the Secretariat may consult with the Chair of the Committee in developing any papers.