AMA rejects call to re-hash Protheses List reforms
The AMA has rejected calls from Private Healthcare Australia to re-hash Protheses List reforms, saying current reforms strike the right balance, having gone through extensive consultation before implementation.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson said the reforms were secured through a careful, long-term consultation process which began when the previous government announced its intention to reform the Prostheses List in its 2021-22 budget.
“The AMA has been working collaboratively to ensure that planned changes won’t impact negatively on patients and that clinicians will still be able to choose the right device for their patients, based on their clinical needs,” Professor Robson said.
“The reforms will deliver around $900m in savings to the health system while not disturbing clinician and patient choice.
“The AMA’s main focus is now to ensure that they are implemented effectively in close consultation with the sector, and calls to reopen pricing arrangements are unhelpful and would simply result in unintended consequences for patients.
“There is certainly more work to be done, but we can’t walk back the path we are on to achieving a modern, fit-for-purpose Prostheses List that ensures the private sector is paying competitive prices for all medical devices and that these savings are fully passed on to consumers.” Professor Robson said.
The AMA said future reforms should look at other ways to make insurance more affordable for consumers, while ensuring the delivery of clinician-led and patient-centric care.
The AMA recently launched a discussion paper A whole of system approach to reforming private healthcare proposing a new body — the Private Health System Authority — to bring the sector together and build consensus on the reforms required to secure the future viability of private health in Australia.
