Report on streamlining prosthesis processes
A report on private health insurance prostheses listing arrangements, carried out by Mr Robert Doyle, was released by the Australian Government on 15 October.
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15 October 2007
ABB134/07
A report on private health insurance prostheses listing arrangements, carried out by Mr Robert Doyle, was released by the Commonwealth Government today.
The report and its public release are required under the National Health Amendment (Prostheses) Act 2005.
The Government wants privately-insured patients to have access to clinically suitable prostheses at no cost to patients. It wants to remove avoidable red tape and establish more transparent approval and benefits-setting processes based on the most clinically-appropriate comparator products.
The Government is determined to avoid spiralling prostheses costs and resulting flow-ons to consumers through their private health insurance premiums.
The thrust of the Doyle report is that the current system of prostheses listing and benefit-setting is working well, but still needs some streamlining and refinement.
Negotiations have commenced for the December 2007 prostheses list. As it is well-advanced, in the interests of continuity, this process will continue under the present listing arrangements.
The Department of Health and Ageing will consult prostheses sponsors, health insurers, hospitals and other interested groups in developing a formal Government response to the recommendations with a view to implementing any changes in the first half of 2008.
I thank Mr Doyle for his work.
The report is available at:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-phicirculars2007-63_07.htm
For more information call Mr Abbott's office on ph 02 6277 7220.
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