In 2022, Day Hospitals Australia released Viability Proposition Reports highlighting significant savings available to the private health sector. These savings can be achieved by implementing policies that support the use of day hospitals or smaller, lower-cost private hospitals for simple treatments, tailored to each patient’s needs and condition.
Fast forward to July 2024, Day Hospitals Australia has released a new report titled “Private Healthcare’s Fork in the Road.” This report builds on previous insights and stresses the need to disrupt the current funding model in private hospitals to ensure the sustainability of the healthcare system.
To keep private healthcare affordable and ensure stable health insurance premiums, it is essential to direct more day procedures to day hospitals. Equally, day hospitals must be adequately remunerated to maintain their viability and continue providing cost-effective care.