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Medical Technology Industry’s Commitment To Ethical Practice

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Medical Technology Association of Australia’s (MTAA) Code of Practice (the Code) is mandatory for member companies and sets high standards for ethical interactions with healthcare providers.

The Code ensures that decision-making on selection and use of products by doctors, or hospital purchasing departments, is based solely on the quality and suitability of the product, not on inducements (perceived or otherwise) paid to the doctor or other decision-maker.

While the Code is not legislated, it does serve as an industry best practice guide for all medical technology companies to follow, and the MTAA takes seriously any alleged breaches of its Code.

Breaches of the Code may be referred, by the Code Authority, to an independent complaints committee for investigation, and may result in the imposition of financial penalties.

There is very high compliance with MTAA’s Code amongst members. However, device companies who are not MTAA members do not have such a Code. MTAA calls for the implementation of a harmonised industry code of practice which all device manufacturers and suppliers are required to adhere to by law or regulation. The MTAA Code of Practice would be an appropriate basis for such a harmonised code.

This is the 11th edition of the MTAA Code of Practice. Updates include:

  • A requirement for Code training to be completed by new employees within three months of commencing employment
  • Amendments to ensure the complaints process is simplified and that any party involved in a complaint has a clear understanding of the process and what is required of them.
  • Amendments to ensure alignment with the requirements of the recent Commonwealth Whistle-blower legislation.

 

MTAA is firmly committed to the high-standards of integrity and ethical behaviour of the industry as it continues to assist Australians to lead healthier and more productive lives through timely access to innovative and safe medical technology.

The Code is available on the MTAA website.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Health Minister Confirms Protheses Reforms Are Working

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Reforms to medical device pricing were implemented as part of the Agreement between MTAA and the Government in October 2017.

Health Minister Greg Hunt told the Australian Financial Review today that:

We have reduced the cost of prostheses to patients and private health insurers by up to 20 per cent for some classes of medical devices…These cost reductions have helped to keep the average premium changes in 2019 to the lowest level in 18 years.

 Under the government’s agreement with the MTAA, price reductions were applied to medical devices listed on the Prostheses List in 2018 and again in 2019. An additional round of cost reductions will apply from 1 February 2020 to continue to reduce costs to private health insurers and patients.[1]

“The devices industry was the sole contributor to lower private health insurance premium increases both in 2017 and in 2018,” said MTAA CEO Ian Burgess today.

“MTAA’s Agreement with the Government is on track to exceed $1.1 billion in expected savings.

“Medical devices make up less than 10 per cent of private health insurance benefits, yet the insurers continue to spread misinformation around the causes of higher than expected premium increases.

“Access to modern life-saving technology through the Prostheses List is a key part of the value proposition of private health insurance.

“Patient and clinician choice is a key part of the value proposition of private health insurance, one that risks being eroded by the false claims made by insurers about the cost of devices.

“The medical technology industry believes access to a full range of medical technology is one of the key benefits of having private health insurance and we’re committed to helping ensure all Australians lead healthier and more productive lives,” Mr Burgess concluded.

[1] https://www.afr.com/companies/healthcare-and-fitness/government-rejects-claims-prosthetic-reforms-have-failed-20191107-p538an

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New Medicare Rebates for PET Scans for Breast Cancer

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From 1 November 2019, the new Medicare rebates will ensure patients with advanced breast cancer can better manage and plan their treatment.

Around 12,000 patients will benefit from these services each year.

In 2019, the estimated number of new cases of breast cancer diagnosed will be greater than 19,300 and more than 3,000 women are expected to die from the disease.

Enormous strides in medical research, diagnosis, treatment and care means the chance of surviving at least five years is now 91 per cent.

The listing of the whole body 18F-FDG2 PET scan for the evaluation of breast cancer boosts efforts to improve the health outcomes for breast cancer patients.

With the Medicare subsidy, the PET scans – a minimally invasive nuclear medicine imaging technique – will save women up to $1,000 per scan.

The new services are:

  • Whole body PET performed for the staging of locally advanced (Stage III) breast cancer (Item 61524)
  • Whole body PET performed for the evaluation of suspected metastatic, or suspected locally or regionally recurrent, breast carcinoma (Item 61525).

The independent expert Medical Services Advisory Committee recommended the listing of these new items.

The committee recommended the new services on the basis that they are comparatively safe, clinically appropriate and cost effective.

The Federal Government is strongly committed to reducing the toll of breast cancer on Australians and their families.

Early detection is key, and for many years now, Australian women aged between 50 and 74 have been invited to access free screening mammograms every two years via the BreastScreen Australia Program.

The Government has said that it is continuing to list the latest proven treatments for breast cancer on the PBS. In May, Ibrance® (palbociclib) was listed for patients with inoperable or metastatic hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

Around 3,000 women each year will benefit from this decision. Without the PBS subsidy, Ibrance would cost around $55,000 for a year’s treatment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

AMA: Value Of Private Health Insurance Continues To Decline

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Launching the report in Canberra on Thursday, AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, warned that the private health insurance sector in Australia is on the precipice.

Dr Bartone said that the Government, the insurers, and all stakeholders must work together to make private health insurance more attractive for more Australians, especially younger people.

“With more than sixty percent of elective surgery in Australia occurring in the private sector, the prospect of greater stress and demand being placed on the already overstretched public hospital system is looming large unless the drift away from private health insurance is stopped,” Dr Bartone said.

“Australians need and demand private health policies that are affordable, transparent, good value, and appropriate for their individual or family circumstances, or they will walk away from private health insurance altogether.

“An increasing number of younger and healthy Australians are opting out of private health insurance.

“This is leaving a higher proportion of older patients who are increasingly more likely to be suffering from illness or chronic disease and, as a result, they are more expensive to insure, further driving up premiums. This trend is not sustainable.

“We are still seeing increases in premiums averaging 3 to 5 per cent a year, when wages growth is firmly stuck at around 2 per cent.

“Sooner or later, the number of people with private health insurance will fall further – and dramatically.”

“We need to work to bring back the value in insurance policies, before it is too late.”

Shadow Health Minister Chris Bowen echoed concerns about the value of private health insurance policies.

“The AMA’s report card on PHI comes only 24 hours after calls from CHOICE for the Government to review Private Health Insurance after their updated analysis confirmed that consumers aren’t getting value for money when it comes to their health insurance,” said Mr Bowen.

“Earlier this week the Private Health Industry called to privatise access to general practitioners and other services, which would be a dangerous step towards Americanising our health care system,” Mr Bowen said.

The medical devices industry was the sole contributor to lower private health insurance premium increases both in 2017 and in 2018. The Medical Technology Association of Australia’s Agreement with the Government is on track to exceed $1.1 billion in expected savings.

“Access to a full range of medical technology is one of the key benefits of having private health insurance and we’re committed to helping ensure all Australians lead healthier and more productive lives,” said MTAA CEO Ian Burgess.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

BioMedTech Horizons: Round 3 Applications Are Now Open

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Expressions of interest are now open for the third tranche of funding, with grants of up to $1 million available for medical device projects targeting innovative solutions to address unmet clinical needs in three key focus areas:

Digitally enabled medical devices in mobile health, health information technology, wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, and digitally enabled personalised medicine Digitally enabled implantable medical devices addressing unmet needs in any therapeutic area General medical devices in the areas of regenerative medicine, women’s health, cardiovascular, orthopaedics, neuroscience, general surgery and oncology.

This funding, BMTH3.0, is delivered via the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), and administered by MTPConnect, the Medical Technology and Pharmaceutical Industry Growth Centre.

Investments from the program are focused on funding proof-of-concept to commercial development of biomedical and medical technologies (biomedtech).

The funding provided for the BioMedTEch Horizons initiative is thanks to an Agreement signed between MTAA and the Commonwealth Government.

For more information and to apply, visit https://www.mtpconnect.org.au/biomedtechhorizons.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Insurers Fail To Address Sustainability Issues, Blame Everyone Else For It

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“…insurers’ lack of preparedness to deal with growing risks, including declining affordability, a shrinking and ageing membership base, and changes in government policy.

The review found that while insurers were well aware of the risks, very few had credible strategies to mitigate their impact on sustainability. APRA observed a heavy reliance on lobbying politicians and other industry stakeholders due to a concerning assumption by many insurers that Government would provide solutions.

“…that’s not an excuse for doing nothing and hoping the Government will fix everything.”[1]

Now, as the next round of premium increases draws closer, the insurers have chosen to deliberately mislead the public about the causes of premium growth, as they continue to devalue their own product through the suggestion that the listing of new and innovative technologies is somehow a negative.

“What we are seeing is an increasingly desperate attempt by the private health insurance industry to rein in their costs and maintain their profitability by pointing the finger at everyone else,” said Ian Burgess, CEO of the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) today.

“Medical devices make up less than 10 per cent of private insurance benefits.

“The devices industry was the sole contributor to lower private health insurance premium increases both in 2017 and in 2018. MTAA’s Agreement with the Government is on track to exceed $1.1 billion in expected savings.

“The claim that the listing of new, innovative and more clinically effective technologies is somehow a negative, is completely absurd and demonstrates that the insurers have lost focus on patients,” Mr Burgess said.

Meanwhile, insurer profits continue to increase, with NIB reporting a 9.2 per cent increase in annual profit recently to $201.8 million, with a share price increase of 31 per cent over the past six months, and Medibank Private’s share price up 16 per cent.

The recently released AlphaBeta report, Keeping Premiums Low: Towards a more sustainable private healthcare system, found that insurers have collected 50% more profit from each of their members over the past five years, far outpacing the 21% growth in benefits paid out.

It also found that private health funds have not extracted sufficient economies of scale in the wake of significant revenue growth and many funds are well above the industry average of 9% in operational expenditure, this includes an estimated marketing spend of $400 million.

“After tax profits for insurers are up 15% over the past three years as affordability for ordinary Australian families goes down,” Mr Burgess said.

“Patient and clinician choice is a key part of the value proposition of private health insurance, one that risks being eroded by the false claims made by insurers about the cost of devices,” said Mr Burgess.

“The medical technology industry believes access to a full range of medical technology is one of the key benefits of having private health insurance and we’re committed to helping ensure all Australians lead healthier and more productive lives,” Mr Burgess concluded.

[1] https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-calls-out-private-health-insurers-over-inaction-to-address-financial

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Global Insights and Local Promise: Fresenius Medical Care’s annual medical report explores how Interconnected Intelligence is transforming healthcare

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The report also explores ways to apply insights gained in different markets on a global level, and how best practices can be adapted to specific market needs.

In addition to articulating experiences in dialysis care across diverse regions, the report delves deeper into several focus areas relevant to the healthcare industry and the evolution of kidney care:

  • Expanding home therapies to give dialysis patients more control of their lives and improve treatment outcomes.
  • Improving transplant access through open communication and collaboration among multiple stakeholders.
  • Embracing diversity and an interdisciplinary approach to improve value-based care in kidney disease.
  • Developing predictive models to identify dialysis clinics that are encountering problems or in need of additional support, and,
  • Clarifying and explaining the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of chronic kidney disease.

Dr. Frank Maddux, Global Chief Medical Officer of Fresenius Medical Care, said: “Interconnected thinking is central to our way of working at Fresenius Medical Care and it demonstrates our commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients. The people of Fresenius Medical Care, all around the world, have always been our greatest asset. Harnessing the full potential of their interconnected intelligence can boost innovation, advance medical progress, develop better therapies, and help drive the transformation of healthcare systems worldwide.”

Download the full report at: https://www.freseniusmedicalcare.com/en/about-us/responsibility/[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Australians say health and medical research matters!

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]National peak body, Research Australia, has asked Australians for their opinions on health for the past 17 years and they consistently tell us that research is crucial to better health and living our best lives.

The Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt launched the 2019 consumer poll Australia Speaks! at Parliament House yesterday to an audience of Research Australia’s Members along with government representatives, sector leaders and other health organisations.

The Hon. Greg Hunt expressed how heartening it is that Australians value health and medical research and are so willing to participate and contribute in the process.

“Health and medical research is about people so each year, with the generous help of Roy Morgan, we ask consumers for their opinions to enable us to reflect their values, and those of our Members, to ensure policy supports our health system.” says Nadia Levin, CEO of Research Australia.

“It is clear Australians see improving hospitals and healthcare as the number one spending priority for the Australian Government, even ahead of infrastructure, education standards and employment opportunities.

“Three quarters of Australians say they are interested in health and medical research. However, while confident in their ability to contribute to decision making about the future direction of the sector, most Australians don’t know how, and many don’t believe they’d be heard. Our governments and research organisations clearly have more work to do to meaningfully engage with the broader community.”

The results also confirmed that Australians are willing to embrace technology that can help them better manage their own health. They trust healthcare professionals to assist them with choosing those technologies and directing them to other credible online information sources. Professor Mary Foley, Managing Director Telstra Health and Research Australia Director shared her views around the impact of data in supporting improved health and what the future holds with the ongoing advances in technology.

The subject of ‘The empowered patient and consumer – managing our own health’ was discussed in a panel made up of sector leaders including the CEO of the Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education Michael Thorn, the CEO of Diabetes Australia, Greg Johnson and Jeppe Theisen, Vice President and General Manager Oceania, Novo Nordisk. Each discussed the importance of preventative medicine and what they are doing in this space to support Australians.

The poll also covered donations and government funding, and once again support for health and medical research is widespread. And at a time when we see the government partnering with the not for profit sector to support health and medical research, people indicated they would be more likely to donate a higher amount if the government would match their donation – a sentiment also reflected in previous polls.

Australian’s opinions continue to shape Research Australia’s strategies and priorities and observations of the changing trends and current attitudes will be shared widely to help shape policy and change to enable a healthier Australia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS VALUE OF ACCESSING CATARACT TREATMENT THROUGH THE PROSTHESES LIST

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Cataracts and glaucoma impose a substantial burden on hundreds of thousands of Australians through reduced vision, leading to lower quality of life, greater health system expenditure, productivity losses, informal care costs, and reliance on aids and modifications.

“Our report found that access to intraocular lenses through the Prostheses List saved government, patients and society $371m in 2017-2018,” said Lynne Pezzullo, Partner at Deloitte Access Economics, today.

“If all cataract surgery was completed in the private sector, additional savings to Government would be $162m. For each additional surgery that shifted to the private sector, individuals would save $836 and Government would save $1,885 per procedure,” Ms Pezzullo said.

Privately insured patients have access to a broad choice of medical devices through the PL, which is a key component of the value proposition of private health insurance.

“Timely access to cost effective private ophthalmic surgeries through the Prostheses List reduces the economic burden of ophthalmic conditions and gives patients greater choice of ophthalmic devices,” said Ian Burgess, MTAA CEO, today.

“The devices industry was the sole contributor to lower private health insurance premium increases both in 2017 and in 2018. MTAA’s Agreement with the Government is on track to exceed $1.1 billion in expected savings, however, further cuts to the Prostheses List could erode these benefits.

“Further cuts to incentives for private ophthalmic treatment could drive more patients into the public system, putting greater pressure on an already over-burdened system,” Mr Burgess said.

A reduction in revenue may also reduce the ability of niche technology providers to bring new products to the market.

“The medical technology industry believes access to a full range of medical technology is one of the key benefits of having private health insurance and we’re committed to helping ensure all Australians lead healthier and more productive lives,” Mr Burgess concluded.

$8 million for ground-breaking clinical trials

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Five Australian-led trials will receive funding from the Government’s Medical Research Future Fund International Clinical Trial Collaborations program.

Researchers at the University of Western Australia will receive $1.8 million to investigate the best approach for treating severe narrowing of the aortic heart valve (aortic stenosis), which is a very common condition.

This large clinical trial will test if earlier valve replacement will improve outcomes for patients.

Macquarie University has received $3.1 million to investigate reducing the risk of dementia by protecting brain health through lifestyle changes.

The George Institute for Global Health will receive $902,000 to evaluate the best treatments for aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by a burst artery in the brain.

In people aged between 40 and 60 years with this condition, nearly half will die and a third will suffer permanent disability. The clinical trial will help doctors better manage patients with this condition.

The University of Newcastle will receive $782,000 to trial the use a new type of wound dressing on patients to reduce infections following emergency abdominal surgery.

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute will receive $1.4 million to investigate the best ways to support fragile lungs in preterm babies, which are prone to collapse and cause injury from the first time they breathe.

While positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) at birth is essential to support the preterm lung, this project will conduct the first large clinical trial of PEEP strategies in preterm infants.

This clinical trial will provide important guidance to clinicians across all health care settings worldwide.

Each project will run at least one clinical trial site in Australia with Australian patients, while collaborating with international researchers or trial teams.

The International Clinical Trial Collaborations program supports Australian researchers, to collaborate globally to develop new or novel drug applications, devices and treatments.
The $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund is an endowment to provide a sustainable source of funding for vital medical research.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]