AUSTRALIAN MADE NASAL SWAB KITS FOR COVID-19 TESTING

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]3DMeditech will supply Australian made, 3D printed nasopharyngeal swab kits. The kits will be issued from the stockpile to general practitioners, private pathology providers and state and territory governments according to their need for ongoing coronavirus testing.

The kits will include a nasopharyngeal swab, viral transport “media” (CDC-prescribed viral transport medium), and a bio hazard bag.

The swabs are the first sterile 3D printed swabs to be included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

The kits will make it easy and safe for healthcare professionals to collect clinical specimens from people presenting for COVID-19 testing, and for the samples to be transported to testing laboratories.

3DMeditech, based in Port Melbourne, will deliver the first swabs this week, with further deliveries continuing weekly until early March 2021.

The National Medical Stockpile is a strategic reserve of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medicines maintained by the Australian Government for use in a public health emergency, such as the current pandemic.

Finding an Australian supplier of sterile nasal swabs is another positive move for the nation’s health security. Reliance on overseas suppliers can make it difficult to source vital health resources, such as virus testing materials and PPE, when global demand is high.

In recent weeks, the Government has signed major agreements worth over $1.7 billion to ensure Australia can mass produce vital vaccines, including a COVID-19 vaccine.

The production and supply agreements that form part of the Government’s COVID-19 response plan, means Australians will be among the first in the world to receive a vaccine, after trials have proven it to be safe and effective.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

TELEHEALTH, E-PRESCRIBING ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE EXTENDED

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Select Committee on Financial Technology and Regulatory Technology has made the recommendations in its interim report.

“The AMA has long advocated for Medicare-subsidised telehealth consultations, and temporary Medicare COVID-19 arrangements have shown the value of telehealth,” AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said today.

“The telehealth items have supported the provision of care during these very difficult times, and have been embraced by patients and doctors.

“The AMA is in discussions with the Commonwealth Government about the long-term future of Medicare-funded telehealth for patients who need to see their GP or non-GP specialist.

“This is an ongoing piece of work. In the meantime, the AMA has called for the extension until March next year of the temporary telehealth items, which are due to expire at the end of this month.

“While work on e-prescribing is progressing very quickly, it is still in a limited testing phase. We welcome the Government’s commitment to its roll-out and want to see the extension of temporary COVID-19 arrangements that have allowed pharmacists to dispense medication using a digital image of a prescription.

“With Australia still in the midst of a global pandemic, these temporary arrangements must continue. They are essential to efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

“The AMA is keen to see the Government make a decision on the extension of these temporary arrangements as soon as possible. Practices are already taking appointments for October and beyond.

“Practices and patients alike need certainty about the availability of telehealth, particularly for vulnerable patients.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

RAMSAY CALLS FOR CORPORATE INSUERS TO PASS ON GAINS

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Australian healthcare company, Ramsay Health Care, has called on corporate health insurers to pass on the more than $1 billion in gains back to communities.

In a story covered by The Australian, Ramsay Health Care’s chief executive, Craig McNally, discussed the healthcare provider’s $284 million fall in net profit, which has been impacted greatly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the sizable impact the pandemic has had on Ramsay Health Care and other health providers, corporate health insurers have continued to rake in profits during the elective surgery hibernation period.

To help mask the appearance of their profits during the pandemic, corporate health insurers have decided to bring forward “deferred claims” totalling $1.4 billion, which, thanks to clever accounting, reduced their reportable profits, despite elective surgery claims being suspended.

Data released by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) revealed that during the pandemic corporate health insurers have raked in gross mega-COVID-profits of $1.03 billion, while cutting the actual benefits paid to policy holders to $20.3 billion, down $600 million from 2019.

Mr McNally said the APRA data shows corporate health insurers have saved over $1 billion in claims costs for the last quarter.

“Their windfall gains put them in a very strong financial position and it would be unreasonable of them not to look at what the broader impact on the system is,” Mr McNally told The Australian.

The relationship between corporate health insurers and others in the health sector have become increasingly tense. As many health industries have continued to make cuts to support the Government’s COVID-19 response, impacting their bottom lines, the private health insurance industry has been accused of profiteering on the back of the once-in-a-generation health crisis.

The association representing medical technology innovators, MTAA, has also called out the corporate insurers, urging them to reverse their premium increases and return windfall profits to their customers.

“If private health insurers in Ireland, and even car insurers in Australia, can return premiums to their customers in this crisis, why can’t corporate health insurers give back some of their windfall profits to struggling Australian families? Why can’t they put people before profits?” Mr Burgess asked.

Many in the health sector will be keeping a keen eye on corporate health insurers to make sure their customers will actually receive the value for these deferred claims.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Aussie company accelerates global ventilator knowledge to help address global demand

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]These Jigs reduce the time it takes manufacturers to learn how to assemble, operate and maintain the ventilator specifications provided through the blueprints – an important consideration given the global ventilator demand and the complexity of the technology.

According to CEO and co-founder of JigSpace, Zac Duff: “What we saw with the public sharing of the ventilator design specifications was that for rapid ventilator manufacturing at scale, manufacturers needed a consistent 3D knowledge sharing solution. Our goal was to transfer knowledge as quickly as possible to help doctors and patients dealing with COVID-19. Since developing the technology, we have seen companies like Tesla and Mayo Clinic use our platform.”

The 3D Jigs are viewed in augmented reality via an iPhone or iPad and allow manufacturing or healthcare partners to visually guide themselves through assembling specific components or operations in-situ with their relevant factory, lab or work environments.

“We understand the urgent need, across the globe, for ventilators as a life-saving device in the management of COVID-19 patients,” said Liz Carnabuci, vice president, Medtronic Australasia. “No single company can meet the global ventilator demand alone. We are pleased to work with JigSpace to increase global ventilator manufacturing capabilities.”

About 7,000 manufacturers who downloaded Medtronic’s PB560 design plans are now using or going to use various AR training guides in Jig Workshop, with part of this success down to an easily accessible app, and not requiring additional hardware, unlike other expensive technologies. This has led to extensive usage in developing countries, as well as traditional manufacturing centres in OECD countries.

Says Mr Duff: “We are seeing a maturation of how AR technology is applied due to COVID-19. Typical knowledge transfer processes have proved to be brittle in this new environment. JigSpace represents the future of how durable manufacturers collaborate, adapt and scale up complex supply chains.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Boost Primary Care To Help Patients In Need

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In December 2019, the RACGP released its 2020-21 federal pre-budget submission. Following policy and funding decisions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RACGP has raised matters for urgent consideration in its 2020-21 pre-budget update submission.

The RACGP has called on government to:

  • extend Medicare subsidies for telehealth and telephone consultations beyond 30 September
  • implement voluntary patient enrolment to enhance continuity of care
  • help GPs care for patients with chronic and complex conditions via longer consultations
  • provide additional Medicare subsidies for mental health RACGP spokesperson Dr Bruce Willett said that now was the right time to give general practice a shot in the arm.

“The long-term health consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic are unknown but likely to be severe. That includes the effects of patients delaying or avoiding care, an increase in mental health concerns and the impacts of the virus itself on long-term physical and mental wellbeing.

“Primary care will be absolutely essential in managing the health of our communities in the months and years ahead but GPs need the right support to do so.

“Each year, GPs provide care to nearly 90% of Australians, yet general practice represents less than 13% of federal government health expenditure.

“This must change now because GPs provide the long-term care needed to improve the health trajectory of patients, keeping them well and out of hospital. The pandemic has placed an enormous strain on our healthcare system and led to many people suffering from poorer health outcomes – if we want to get on top of these problems we need to boost investment in primary care.”

Dr Willett said that the right investments would make an enormous difference for many patients.

“Many aspects of healthcare policy are complicated, but this is strikingly simple – a boost to primary care funding would allow more people to access quality care from their GP and lead to better health outcomes for patients as well as reduced healthcare expenditure.

“We have clearly laid out where government should provide greater support for general practice and improve patient health.

“During the pandemic many patients have avoided seeing their GP for new symptoms or serious existing conditions. Expanded telehealth and telephone consultations are proving crucial for many patients so we need flexible telehealth services to be widely available beyond 30 September this year.

“Ensuring patients have continuity of care with a usual GP is essential. It results in more patients addressing their health concerns at first instance before they become more severe and require secondary care.

“A voluntary patient enrolment system, where clinics receive additional payments for ‘enrolling’ a patient with a regular GP, would enhance comprehensive care for more patients and reduce hospitalisations for those who frequently visit GPs.

 

“The delay in rolling out this funding system is unfortunate because the patients who will benefit the most from voluntary patient enrolment are those most at risk of the COVID-19 virus. That includes older Australians and people with chronic disease.

“The pandemic has also put immense strain on many people and led to more patients experiencing mental health concerns. To help these people we need longer consultations so that GPs can take the time to talk through what our patients are experiencing and how we can help them.

“The health impats of the pandemic on the overall health of the population will be long-lasting and GPs on the frontline need all the help they can get. Our plan will provide them with the resources they need to do just that.”

The RACGP’s Vision for general practice and a sustainable healthcare system outlines how greater investment in primary care will reduce the need for more expensive secondary care and enhance the nation’s productivity through a healthier workforce. It will also promote health equity for demographic groups who disproportionately rely on secondary care including treatment in hospitals.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

HealthEngine to pay $2.9 million for misleading reviews and patient referrals

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]HealthEngine admitted that between 30 April 2014 and 30 June 2018 it gave non-clinical personal information, such as names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, of over 135,000 patients to third party private health insurance brokers without adequately disclosing this to consumers. HealthEngine earned more than $1.8 million from its arrangements with private health insurance brokers during this period.

HealthEngine was also ordered to contact affected consumers and provide details of how they can regain control of their personal information.

“These penalties and other orders should serve as an important reminder to all businesses that if they are not upfront with how they will use consumers’ data, they risk breaching the Australian Consumer Law,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.

“The ACCC is very concerned about the potential for consumer harm from the use or misuse of consumer data.”

HealthEngine also admitted that between 31 March 2015 and 1 March 2018, it did not publish around 17,000 reviews and edited around 3,000 reviews to remove negative aspects, or to embellish them. HealthEngine also admitted that it misrepresented to consumers the reasons why it did not publish a rating for some health or medical practices.

“The ACCC was particularly concerned about HealthEngine’s misleading conduct in connection with reviews it published, because patients may have visited medical practices based on manipulated reviews that did not accurately reflect other patients’ experiences,” Mr Sims said.

HealthEngine admitted liability and made joint submissions with the ACCC to the Federal Court. HealthEngine will also pay a contribution to the ACCC’s legal costs.

Background

The ACCC began investigating HealthEngine in July 2018 and subsequently launched legal proceedings.

HealthEngine describes itself as Australia’s largest online health marketplace, which is used by over a million consumers every month.

HealthEngine provides a booking system for patients and an online health care directory that lists over 70,000 health practices and practitioners in Australia. The directory allows patients to search for and book appointments with health practitioners. Up until June 2018, consumers could also access reviews from patients about the quality and services of health practitioners.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Revealed: Private Health Insurers Profiteering From COVID-19

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The data shows that during COVID-19 private health profiteers have raked in gross mega-COVID-profits of $1.03 billion, while cutting the actual benefits paid to policy holders to $20.3 billion, down $600 million from 2019.

Clever accounting to shift $1.4 billion worth of benefit payouts from the distant future into the June quarter does not change the facts.

Private health profiteers have also increased their management expenses by 15.8% on the latest quarter, a total of more than $650 million – far exceeding the $500 million in savings insurers claim to have returned to members.

The APRA data also showed that total benefits paid for prostheses decreased by 14.7% in the June 2020 quarter compared with March 2020, despite only a 12.9% decline in hospital benefits paid.

The APRA June quarter statistics on Private Health Insurance highlight once again the savings that have been delivered by MTAA’s Agreement with the Commonwealth, despite the enormous financial pressures being faced by the industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the continued reduction in the cost of medical devices for patients – a direct result of the $1.1 billion in cuts that MedTech innovators delivered through MTAA’s 2017 Agreement with the Government to help make healthcare more affordable – the APRA data has shown a significant spike in insurer profits, which are expected to continue to rise, year on year.

Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) CEO, Ian Burgess, has called on private health insurers to reverse their premium increases and return windfall profits to their customers as Australian families continue to struggle with COVID-19. “As MedTech innovators, doctors, nurses and essential workers have pulled together to reduce costs and support the Government’s fight against COVID-19, struggling Australian families are rightly asking why private health profiteers are still raking in windfall profits at the expense of everyone else,” Mr Burgess said.

“If private health insurers in Ireland, and even car insurers in Australia, can return premiums to their customers in this time of national unity, why can’t these private health profiteers give back some of their windfall profits to struggling Australian families? Why can’t they put people before profits?”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

CALLS FOR REFORM OF PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The APRA June quarter data shows the percentage of Australians with private health insurance has declined again to 43.6 percent, down from 47.3 percent just five years ago.

Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) CEO, Michael Roff, said the Federal Government needed to consider a range of measures in the upcoming Budget to address the significant affordability issues of private health insurance.

“There has been further decline in membership and with increasing pressure on personal finances from increasing unemployment, particularly for young people and women, the Government needs to act to address affordability concerns so people can continue to access private hospitals when they need them,” Mr Roff said.

The data also showed that privately insured hospital services have gone down 19% compared to the same quarter last years and extras have done down 30% compared to the same quarter last year. Corporate health insurers are making massive savings this year as fewer people are claiming insurance.

Also responding to the APRA data, consumer advocacy group, CHOICE, accused corporate health insurers of making massive savings while still raising the prices on Australian families.

CHOICE’s Health Campaigner, Dean Price, said the APRA statistics showed a dramatic drop in the number of surgeries and treatments being covered by private health insurance during COVID-19.

“In the middle of the biggest global pandemic in over 100 years, people have been reminded of the quality of Medicare and our hospital system and have found little reason to stick with this expensive product,” Mr Price said.

“When you’re sick you just want certainty that you will be cared for, but private health insurance makes what should be simple more difficult. Private health insurance is still riddled with confusing policies, ever increasing premiums and shockingly high out of pocket costs.”

Of concern to many in the health sector are the statistics that show corporate health insurers spent $515 million less on people’s healthcare during the first months of COVID-19, despite making struggling families pay full price.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

OPPOSITION BACKS DOCTORS’ CALLS FOR TELEHEALTH EXTENSION

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Opposition health spokesman, Chris Bowen MP, had called for the introduction of Medicare telehealth rebates early in this health emergency, and was said to have consistently supported reforms to the items to improve patient outcomes.

In a statement to the press, Mr Bowen said the AMA and RACGP had reiterated that the pandemic will not end on 30 September – when Medicare telehealth items are due to cease – and has called on the Government to extend the items until March 2021, in line with the JobKeeper extension.

“Medical and allied health services delivered by telehealth have allowed Australians to access health care from home while reducing COVID-19 risks for patients and health care workers alike,” Mr Bowen said in a statement.

“Labor backs these calls by the AMA and RACGP and urges the Government to extend the telehealth program.”

The Opposition believes the extension should include both telephone and video-conference items, to maintain access and choice for patients and providers – including those who can’t access video services.

It is believed the extension period should be used to agree a long-term future for telehealth, as part of broader efforts to boost the quality and coordination of care.

The Opposition has also urged the Government to extend telehealth access for mental health services in consultation with the sector, and to release and response to the Productivity Commission report on mental health urgently.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]