The private health sector will be closely watching events in Canberra with the futures of the prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and even health minister Greg Hunt the subject of ongoing leadership speculation.
Mr Hunt expressed support for Mr Turnbull during question time in the House of Representatives yesterday but reports have also indicated he backed former health minister Peter Dutton in his leadership challenge earlier this week.
On Thursday morning Mr Dutton called for another party room. He declared his intention to challenge Mr Turnbull for the leadership for a second time.
Political instability, with obvious questions over Mr Hunt's tenure in the health portfolio, comes at a critical time for the private health sector with parliament considerting legislation implementing the raft of reforms announced last year.
Mr Hunt is also overseeing a range of other ongoing reviews, including in relation to the Prostheses List and patient out-of-pocket costs, while Labor is pushing ahead with its planned two-year two per cent cap on annual cap on premium increases.