In May and June 2022, the Department of Health and Aged Care held a series of virtual workshops (three in total) with key stakeholders and a small group of sponsors to seek input into the new listing pathways process to be used as part of the future Prostheses List (PL) model facilitated by the Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA), School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide. These workshops built on the information outlined in Consultation Paper 3 - A modernised...More
The Department is conducting studies into key PHI regulatory and policy settings (Lifetime Health Cover, Risk Equalisation Medicare Levy Surcharge, PHI Rebate and Private Hospital Default Benefit Arrangements). The aim of these studies is to identify opportunities to improve the affordability and quality of PHI cover for consumers to access private health services and to optimise the contribution private health makes to the health system.
Finity Consulting (Finity), an actuarial...More
The Department of Health and Aged Care is seeking feedback from stakeholders on a proposed Prostheses List (PL) Compliance Strategy (the Strategy). The purpose of a PL compliance function is to maintain the integrity of the PL and its program.
The proposed Strategy found at the bottom of the page is open for consultation via an online survey.
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The Department of Health and Aged Care is developing a new approach to regulating aged care (the new model) through a consultation process with the aged care sector , older Australians, their families and carers.
The new model will provide rules and guidance for aged care service providers, outlining what they are obligated to do to ensure the dignity, protection and safety of older Australians in aged care, and that they are receiving high quality care.
...More
The EFC Program provides funding for chemotherapy and other medicines used for the treatment of cancer that are administered through infusion or injection at public or private hospitals. Not all cancer medicines are provided through the EFC Program; some may be subsidised through other sections of the broader Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The Australian Government is undertaking a review of the EFC Program to examine current EFC arrangements and the associated...More
The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is a list of health professional services (items) that the Australian Government subsidises. MBS items provide patient benefits for a wide range of health services including consultations, diagnostic tests, therapy, and operations.
In 2021, the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) Continuous Review was established to ensure the MBS continues to support high-quality care, remains flexible, and stays up to date. The MBS Continuous Review involves...More
The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is a list of health professional services (items) that the Australian Government subsidises. MBS items provide patient benefits for a wide range of health services including consultations, diagnostic tests, therapy, and operations.
In 2021, the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) Continuous Review was established to ensure the MBS continues to support high-quality care, remains flexible, and stays up to date. The MBS Continuous Review...More
Australia’s National Medicines Policy
The Department of Health and Aged Care is inviting stakeholders to provide further feedback on a revised draft of the National Medicines Policy (NMP).
Finalisation of the NMP Review was extended until after the recent Federal Election in May 2022.
The Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP has reappointed Professor Michael Kidd AM as the sole reviewer to complete the Review and provide a final...More
Informing the Private Health Insurance Default Benefits Arrangement study
Ernst & Young (EY) has been contracted by the Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) to undertake a study of private health insurance (PHI) default benefit arrangements (the PHI default benefits).
PHI default benefits include ‘minimum’ and ‘second-tier default’ benefits, both of which are defined in the Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Rules 2011...More
Overview of Reporting on COVID-19 CHSP Emergency Support
Funding provided through the COVID-19 CHSP Emergency Support grant activity was a key component in the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other unforeseen events.
This Final Report is a standalone report that will ensure organisations meet accountability requirements under the Simple Grant Agreement.
Your completion of this report should provide clear information to allow...More
Overview of Reporting on COVID-19 Aged Care CHSP Meals
Funding provided through the COVID-19 Aged Care CHSP Meals grant activity was a key component in the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Final Report is a standalone report that will ensure organisations meet accountability requirements under the Simple Grant Agreement.
Your completion of this report should provide clear information to allow the Department to assess your...More
We are seeking feedback on the planned introduction of on-site pharmacists in residential aged care homes.
Having a pharmacist on-site will give residents and their families confidence that medications are regularly reviewed, appropriate, and will provide continuity in medication management. This positive change for older Australians responds to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Recommendation 38, and will be rolled out from 2023.
The Aged care on-site...More
About the Child Dental Benefits Schedule
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a national program funded by the Australian Government and managed by the Department of Health and Aged Care and Services Australia. The CDBS replaced the Medicare Teen Dental Plan in 2014 and provides children who are eligible for Medicare and who satisfy a means test with up to $1026 in benefits over a two calendar year period for basic dental services (refer to the CDBS Brochure at ...More
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is consulting with stakeholders on proposed changes to the recommended use of Zoster vaccines for inclusion in the Australian Immunisation Handbook, with an intention to submit the recommendation to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for its approval under section 14A of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992.
The draft recommendations and the rationale for the changes are outlined in...More
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is consulting with stakeholders on proposed changes to recommended use of meningococcal B vaccines in people at increased risk of meningococcal B disease for inclusion in the Australian Immunisation Handbook, with an intention to submit the recommendation to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for its approval under section 14A of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992.
The draft...More
The Department of Health is reviewing the aged care content published on health.gov.au.
The Aged Care Pages Development Survey aims to collate an understanding of how the content is found and used.
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Finity Consulting Pty Limited (Finity) are conducting the actuarial study into the effectiveness of the regulatory settings for the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) and the PHI Rebate (Rebate) announced in the 2021-22 Budget.
The aim of reforms to the key incentives is to improve the affordability and value of PHI, participation in PHI, and the sustainability of the mixed model of private and public healthcare. Also, how these can be designed to support better value and outcomes...More
The organ donation and transplantation sector in Australia has seen significant growth since the beginning of the national program in 2009. Although the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recent organ donation and transplantation rates in Australia and internationally, Australians continued to publicly support donation through a record number of new registrations on the Australian Organ Donor Register in 2021.
In 2017, media reports highlighted concerns around inequitable access to...More
National Initial Assessment and Referral for Mental Healthcare for older adults
Consultation Draft – Survey
Caretaker notice: The Prime Minister has announced a 21 May 2022 federal election and as such the Department of Health is operating in accordance with the caretaker conventions. Departments and agencies restrict their activities in some respects during the caretaker period so as to protect the apolitical nature of the Australian Public...More
The Australian Government’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program invites eligible Australians aged between 50 to 74 years to screen every two years using a free and simple screening test. The Program aims to reduce deaths from bowel cancer by detecting early signs of the disease.
In 2020, the Department of Health commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to undertake an independent review of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. A Review Report has now been...More
Winter doses for residential disability accommodation settings can be sourced through a variety of channels, including primary care providers such as GPs and pharmacies, working with Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to identify primary health care in-reach options and Commonwealth in-reach. Where a disability service provider is not able to source a primary care provider to administer COVID-19 Winter Dose Vaccine, they are able to request an in-reach Commonwealth COVID-19 Winter Dose...More
We want to hear about what is important in the design of high quality residential aged care accommodation.
The Australian Government is working with senior Australians and the aged care sector to develop a new Residential Aged Care Accommodation Framework, including design standards. These will guide the design of residential aged care accommodation to help improve quality of life for senior Australians.
Have your say
Senior Australians, their families, carers...More
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health insurance specifically for overseas students and their dependents whilst they are in Australia. It includes coverage for medical and hospital care, ambulance services, and some pharmaceutical items.
The Department of Health administers the Deed for the Provision of Overseas Student Health Cover . The Deed sets out the conditions in which registered Australian private health insurers signed to the Deed must comply with to offer OSHC...More
Public consultation on the National Rural and Remote Nurse Generalist Framework (the Framework) is now open.
The intent of the the Framework is to describe the unique context of practice and core capabilities for remote area nursing practice, and rural nursing practice. The Framework is designed as a tool and guide and will benefit Registered Nurses in rural and remote practice settings, their employers, education providers, health administrators and nursing and midwifery...More
The Australian Government Department of Health is seeking feedback on the draft National Tobacco Strategy (NTS) 2022-2030.
The draft NTS 2022-2030 sets out a national policy framework for all governments to work together and in collaboration with non-government organisations to improve the health of all Australians by reducing the prevalence of tobacco use and its associated health, social, environmental and economic costs, and the inequalities it causes.
All...More
UPDATE:
The Department of Health is currently finalising arrangements for recommencing the NMP Review and further advice will be provided in the near future.
Published in 2000, Australia’s National Medicines Policy (NMP) is a well established and universally endorsed framework that aims deliver positive health outcomes for all Australians through their access to, and appropriate use of, medicines. The NMP guides the range of activities encompassing...More
The Department of Health - Prostheses List Reforms Taskforce invites submissions in relation to proposed improvements to the Private Health Insurance (PHI) Prostheses List (PL) as approved by Government and reflected in the 2021-2022 Federal Budget.
The Prostheses List reforms - Consultation Paper No 2 concerns amendments to Part B of the PL, and it will be presented in two parts:
1- The present paper (2a) reflects the design stage of the reforms to Part B of the PL. It...More
The Department of Health - Prostheses List Reforms Taskforce invites submissions in relation to proposed improvements to the Private Health Insurance (PHI) Prostheses List (PL) as approved by Government and reflected in the 2021-2022 Federal Budget.
The Prostheses List reforms - Consultation Paper No 3 concerns proposed modern listing pathways, a contemporary fit-for-purpose process to be adopted for the PL which allows for applications of differing complexity to be dealt with...More
The Department of Health invites submissions in relation to a proposal to introduce a cost recovered pathway for applications received from commercial entities seeking reimbursement decisions from the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC).
This proposal is to introduce a cost recovered pathway for the following application types received, from commercial entities:
codependent technologies (medical services and health technologies that...More