Private Healthcare Australia has welcomed the 2018-19 Budget as a further step towards "delivering evidence-based healthcare in Australia, better health outcomes for patients and value for consumers."
The Budget confirmed the government's latest response to the Medicare review taskforce recommendations will deliver $189.7 million in savings over three years.
“The PHI industry has long supported this clinician-led review as every dollar of waste and every episode of inappropriate practice threatens the sustainability of private health. Eliminating as much low-value care as possible is a crucial measure in the challenge to improve affordability and keep downward pressure on premiums," said PHA CEO Dr Rachel David.
“There is only one reason premiums increase and that is because health funds are paying for more healthcare. The only way to put downward pressure on premiums as utilisation goes up is to address wasteful input costs – fraud, over servicing, inflated prices for medical devices, low-value care.
“Health funds want to ensure their members are getting value for money and to reassure them their premiums are not being spent on low value treatment. Under legislation health funds are obliged to pay for medical treatments covered by the MBS. Reducing payments for procedures that aren’t effective ensures both health fund members and taxpayers’ funds are being used appropriately."
Dr David said the impact of the MBS review outcomes will be enhanced by the government's new measures that establish a mechanism to manage compliance with the program.
“These measures will better target investigations into fraud, inappropriate practice and incorrect claiming using data analytics and behavioral driven approaches to compliance.”
“Eliminating improper and fraudulent claims could deliver savings of more than $1 billion to the Government and to private health consumers through lower premiums.
Dr David also said private health funds will continue to work with the government to ensure the industry's sustainability.
“More than 13.5 million Australians rely on private health insurance for security and peace of mind, so they can access healthcare when and where they need it, however premium affordability is their major concern. Almost half of them have an annual income of less than $50,000.
“Over 80% of people believe that they get value for money from their private health insurance and cite peace of mind, choice of specialist for continuity of care, choice of hospital, and timing of medical treatment as the main reasons. Keeping health insurance affordable benefits all Australians by keeping the pressure off the public hospital system,” said Dr David.