HCF and Healthscope sign new agreement

The AMA had urged parties to work on a solution after the agreement expired last year.

Healthscope and HCF have now signed a two-year agreement averting the possibility of HCF members paying higher out of pocket costs at Healthscope facilities from this month. 

The agreement means that Healthscope hospitals remain in the HCF participating hospital network. It ensures doctors working at Healthscope facilities and their HCF member patients will have continued access to HCF reduced gap or no-gap treatment for hospital or medical services included in their cover at Healthscope facilities across Australia. 

Healthscope and HCF announced that on 28 September 2022 their agreement had expired, and they were unable to finalise commercial terms for a new contract. 

The AMA had called on the groups to keep working on finding a negotiated solution and is glad to see this has been achieved before it impacted on doctors and their HCF member patients.