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Pathology Funding Review
Review of Pathology FundingThe Australian Government has requested a detailed review of pathology funding arrangements to ensure that the Government is paying the right amount to support access for patients to quality pathology services. As part of the review the Department of Health and Ageing will be gathering information about how current arrangements operate in practice and to invite stakeholders to propose options for pathology funding arrangements in the future.
The review will take place against the background of the Government’s broader agenda to ensure that spending on health is sustainable, affordable and provides maximum benefit to the greatest number of people, which will involve continued emphasis on savings and efficiencies.
The review of pathology has three key tasks:
• To establish appropriate fee relativities for Medicare Benefits Schedule items for different disciplines;
• To identify groups of pathology tests that might be appropriate for different funding arrangements; and
• To provide detailed options for implementing tendering for selected pathology services.
The full Terms of Reference are attached for your information (see right ►►►)
A Pathology Review Consultation Committee is being established to assist the Department in the review process. This Committee will be the principal forum for seeking stakeholders' views. The AACB has been invited to nominate a representative and the Executive has chosen Dr Tony Badrick for this role. Our President, Prof Leslie Burnett will also serve on this Committee but in his capacity as Chair of the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC). If you wish to contribute to an AACB submission please contact Tony Badrick (Tony_Badrick@snp.com.au) or Tony Prior (tony@aacb.asn.au).
The first of a series of discussion papers has now been released and is attached (see right hand side of page) for your information. The aim of the discussion paper is to guide consultation and discussion by providing an overview of some of the issues identified in respect of the current funding arrangements and to help identify possible alternative options for consideration. Stakeholders are invited to provide written submissions in response to the paper by 30 April 2010.
Submissions received will be made publicly available unless confidentiality is specifically requested and justified. Stakeholders are welcome to address all, or selected, issues raised in this discussion paper. Submissions made to the 2008 strategic review of pathology will be taken into consideration.
Submissions should be addressed to:
Review of Pathology Funding Arrangements
Medical Benefits Reviews Task Group
Department of Health and Ageing
MDP 153
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
The first discussion paper along with the full terms of reference for the review can also be found on the Medical Benefits Reviews Task Group website: http://www.health.gov.au/mbrtg
