Policy and Research
Dr Barbara Carney, Director Policy & Research
In 2009, our Taskforces had a lot to do, given the level of activity generated in their areas of scope. APHA has Taskforces or Committees for:
- Policy and advocacy
- Safety and quality;
- Health workforce;
- Financial sustainability;
- Psychiatry; and
- Rehabilitation (known as the National Private Rehabilitation Group)
The Reports of the Taskforce Chairs indicate the range of activities in which they were involved.
As in 2008, 2009 was a notable year for the number of Government inquiries and reviews which required substantial submission from APHA. We lodged submissions on:
- Interim Report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission;
- Senate Inquiry into the proposed changes to the Private Health Insurance Rebate and Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds, announced in the 2009 Budget;
- Productivity Commission Study of the performance of public and private hospitals;
- ACHS Review of EQuiP 4 Standards;
- The governance and organisation of clinical training;
- Health technology assessment (HTA) review; and
- Review of assessment of human tissue and tissue products
- Accreditation of Nursing and Midwifery Training
The submissions on the proposed changes to PHI and the Productivity Commission in particular required major research and analysis.
Our public policy submissions are available on our website: http://www.apha.org.au/advocacy/submissions/
APHA appeared before the Senate Committee on the PHI legislation, and took part in two full day discussions with the Productivity Commission on its hospital research study. APHA also participated in a discussion on multivariate analysis.
APHA is a member of the Stakeholder Reference Group for the HTA review, which has entailed four full day meetings this year.
Other key issues
Chemotherapy
A little-noticed item in the 2008 Budget was the proposed change to the way in which intravenous chemotherapy is reimbursed. As a savings measure, the Government proposed to reimburse only the amount of the drug or drugs used. If implemented, this measure would have greatly increased the cost of chemotherapy to patients, as the nature of these drugs and the fact that they are packaged overseas, means that it is often unavoidable that there is part of the preparation which is not used and must be disposed of. The majority of chemotherapy is carried out in private hospitals. This change was due to be introduced with effect from 1 July 2009.
From February 2009, APHA was an active member of a coalition of cancer patients, physicians, community and hospital pharmacists, and manufacturers, which developed alternative proposals for the Government’s consideration and engaged with Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon and her Department on alternative solutions. The measure will not proceed in its current form. The Government has shown willingness to listen to stakeholders and work with them on reforms that will not impact adversely on patients.
More support for Taskforces and Members from APHA Policy and Research
A significant development this year was the appointment of Dr Peter Thomas as Policy Manager. Peter has brought considerable research and analytical expertise to APHA. He has experience in managing and carrying out complex research projects using a range of techniques. This adds greatly to our capacity to produce reports and information for members, such as the quarterly PHIAC statistics. Peter has quickly become a valuable member of the APHA team.
