Current Initiatives

Issues and initiatives addressed recently include – for your interest: 

 

  • Changes to BUPA’s medical gap cover  – Impact of the private day hospital sector – Bupa’s decision to cease no-gap medical cover for their members seeking treatment in non- contracted  hospitals raises many concerns for consumers and private day and overnight  hospitals.  Consumers electing to use their private Bupa insurance after entering a public hospital for emergency treatment will no longer be covered under the no-gap medical cover that they may have on their Bupa policy.  It is relevant to note that 37% of day hospitals (i.e., over 126), and 8% of private overnight hospitals do not have agreements with BUPA (information obtained from Bupa’s website).  There are concerns regarding Bupa’s future strategy for  private health care in Australia.  These concerns were reflected in Day Hospitals Australia’s submission to the 2017 Senate enquiry where it was advised that “some of the major health funds are advising their members to go to another hospital rather than attend where their doctor has organised their admission, advising the member that the particular hospital does not have a contract and therefore they will not be covered for their scheduled treatment at that hospital”.   Day Hospitals Australia applauds the actions of the  Minister for Health, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, in referring the recent actions of Bupa to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman.  We are monitoring the issue and seeking advice.
  • Day Hospitals Australia | 2017: A Year in Review – Click here to view 2017: A Year in Review document which outlines the activity, achievements and focus of Day Hospitals Australia for the day hospital sector in 2017, issued in January 2018.
  • Type C Certification clarification of roles PHI 37/17 Circular – Day Hospitals Australia is still receiving feedback from members that some Private Health Insurance (PHI) Funds are not respecting the medical practitioners reason for hospitalisation with respect to Type C procedures.  Prior to the development of the PHI 37/17 document the ASPS and ACD established an extensive list of reasons as to why such circumstances would benefits the patient’s outcome in having their Type C procedure in a hospital setting.  This list has since been forwarded to the Department of Health (DOH) and the ASPS have endorsed it.  Currently it is before the ACD for their endorsement and it is then likely that Day Hospitals Australia will also endorse this list as suggested by the DOH regulator.  We will keep members posted on progress and would appreciate any examples of where the current PHI 37/17 document has not been adhered to.
  • Private Health Ministerial Advisory Committee (PHMAC) – Day Hospitals Australia is represented on PHMAC.  The next meeting of this committee is scheduled for 12 June, members will be advised when the summary is available and will be posted on the Department of Health website.
  • Prosthesis List Advisory Committee (PLAC) –  Day Hospitals is represented on this committee.  Summaries of these meeting can be found on the Department of Health website.  Members are encouraged to provide feedback to the Prosthesis Google Group,  members wishing to provide feedback can join the google group by contacting  Julie van Lierop julie.vanlierop@dayhospitalsaustralia.net.au.  A sub group has recently been formed the Prostheses Industry Working Group on which Day Hospitals Australia is also represented.
  • AS/NZS 4187:2014 – Taskforce provided feedback to Standards Australia review of AS/NZS 4187:2014 and is awaiting feedback.
  • NSQHS Standards Steering Committee – Day Hospitals Australia has continued to be represented on this committee in relation to the development of Version 2 of the NSQHS Standards and the associated Guides for various healthcare facilities including day hospitals.  This information is available on the Commission website.
  • Minister for Health – dialogue has continued on an ongoing basis with the Federal Minister for Health and his Senior advisor on key issues impacting the  Day Hospital sector. The Day Hospitals Australia Board and CEO met with Minister Hunt on 7 March 2018.
  • SA licensing legislation – the SA Day Hospitals Australia Director and the CEO met with the new state Minister for Health, The Hon. Steven Wade on 23 April to discuss the Health Care (Private Day Procedure Centres) Variation Regulations 2018 which were gazetted on 19 April.  Day Hospitals Australia, on behalf of our South Australian members, is pleased with the outcome of the work undertaken on the Regulations.
  • Day Hospitals Australia 2018 Conference – ‘Rapid changes in healthcare – is your hospital keeping up?’ on 19-21 September at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park.  More information can be seen on our dedicated conference website.  The program is looking exciting, interesting and relevant to the theme of the conference.  Program and delegate registration is expected to be available on 1 May.
  • Ambulance Victoria Cost Model – Day Hospitals Australia continues to pursue  this matter on behalf of Victorian members.  Recently there has been some acknowledgement by AV of appropriateness of invoices for some of our Victorian members, however there is still a need to the cost model for AV to be reviewed.  There is a meeting scheduled for 7 May with the Department of Health to discuss members’ experiences and the position of Day Hospitals Australia’s further.  The Shadow Minister for Health, Mary Wooldridge, has taken an interest in this issue over the past several years and we  continue to keep her informed.
  • Victorian Health Services (Private Hospitals and Day Procedure Centre) Amendment Regulations 2018 – Day Hospitals Australia has provided feedback on these Regulations with recommendations for some to be reviewed and has submitted further comments in mid April 2018.  Victorian members were given a further opportunity to comment on the 23 April with all feedback required by 27 April.
  • Process for the Development of a Day Hospital Are you thinking of building a day hospital?  It is recognised that the setting up and the development of a Day Hospital can be a challenging task.  Where do I start? Day Hospitals Australia  is pleased to provide an invaluable paper that outlines the process in a staged format to support those wishing to develop a Day Hospital.  Please contact the Day Hospitals Australia Staff for a copy of this document at a very reasonable price of $115.00 incl. GST (available free to current members).