Tasmania's public health system is failing patients while "raking in the cash" from the state's privately insured, according to the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA).
APHA acting CEO Lucy Cheetham said the annual report of Tasmania’s health service illustrates the impact the cash grab for privately insured patients is having on access to public hospital care.
“We know from Australian Prudential Regulation Authority data that there has been significant growth in privately insured patients treated in public hospitals in Tasmania," said Ms Cheetham.
"In 2018-2019 this number was 21,456 – meaning one in seven public hospital beds were given up for privately insured patients.
"Data from the Annual Report on Health in Tasmania shows the public system in Tasmania is in a dismal state as a result," she continued.
“Patients who are reliant on the public system are being let down by the push to make money out of the privately insured. The Tasmanian health service is missing its own key performance indicators by a significant margin.
"Patients who, according to Tasmanian health, should be getting surgery within no more than 30 days are waiting up to 686 days for their surgery.
“All the while, the income generated from privately insured patients is on the rise, $35,590,000 for 2018- 2019 up from $34,288,000 in 2017-2018. The take from private health insurance jumped 10 percent in 2018-2019,” she said.
The APHA said the public system is also failing to meet key KPIs with only 58 per cent of admissions on time, compared to a target of 90 per cent.
Ms Cheetham said another troubling detail in the report were concerns raised about non-compliance with taxation and superannuation legislation to do with the Private Patient Scheme. This should lead to the Federal Auditor-General reviewing all states.
“We saw the same thing in Victoria in June where their Auditor-General found the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services incentivised public hospitals to coerce patients into private treatment. That report found the practice – particularly if private patients were treated ahead of the public – a potential breach of the National Health Reform Agreement, which could result in the Federal Government asking for its money back.
“Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has called states out on this practice and they must account for their actions as hospital funding negotiations enter their final phase. The fact that by their own admission and reporting public hospital systems are failing public patients to such a significant degree should be impetus alone to end this practice,” added Ms Cheetham.