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TELEHEALTH, E-PRESCRIBING ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE EXTENDED

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[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]

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MEDTECH INDUSTRY AWARDS

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Setup by the MTAA, the Australian MedTech Industry Awards are the industry’s premier awards event, recognising outstanding individuals and organisations across Australia.

For this year’s awards, MTAA said they are establishing a new award to be called the Women in MedTech Award for Emerging Women in Leadership.

MTAA has championed the push to better engage and encourage women into the medical technologies professions through the establishment of its Women in MedTech initiative.

Leading the debate and promoting the benefits of more women in the workplace MTAA and its members companies continue its proactive support of gender diversity, investing in women in MedTech to unlock their full potential.

The award categories are:

KERRIN RENNIE AWARD

The Kerrin Rennie Award for Excellence in Medical Technology – Improving Quality of Life was established to recognise and profile the innovative and extraordinary contribution of medical technology to improving health outcomes of Australian patients.

The Award was inaugurated in 2007 and is endowed by the Rennie family in memory of Kerrin, a long serving and highly respected member of the Australian medical technology community.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

This award recognises an individual who has contributed in an exceptional way to the medical technology industry in Australia. This may be evidenced through their contribution to industry development, improvement in patient outcomes or excellence in leadership or innovation.

WOMEN IN MEDTECH AWARD (INDIVIDUAL AND COMPANY)

MTAA introduced the Women in MedTech Awards in 2017. The Awards are presented to both an individual and a company who have been leaders in advancing or achieving a significant result in the WiMT mission or goals within their company or the industry.

WOMEN IN MEDTECH EMERGING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

MTAA is  introducing the Women in MedTech Award for Emerging Women in Leadership this year. This Award celebrates inspiring emerging female leader in the medical technology industry. This is exclusively for MTAA members only.

Nominations close 22 October 2020, and winners announced on 17 November 2020.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”CLICK TO NOMINATE” color=”primary” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtaa.org.au%2Faustralian-medtech-industry-awards|||”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

NEW PRIORITY MIGRATION LIST ANNOUNCED

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Government has identified 17 occupations on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL), confirming they were chosen based on advice from the National Skills Commission and consultation with relevant Commonwealth agencies. The list is expected to be reviewed regularly.

Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge, said the changes would strike the right balance for Australia’s economic recovery.

“Our priority is getting Australians back into work but we also need key health workers to help fight the virus and skilled migrants who are going to be job multipliers, to help the economy recover,” Mr Tudge said.

“These occupations in the health care, construction and IT sectors will supercharge both our health and economic response to COVID-19.

“Visa holders who have been sponsored by an Australian business in a PMSOL occupation can request an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions, but will be subject to a strict 14 days quarantine on arrival at their own expense.”

While existing skilled migration occupation lists will remain active and visas will still be processed, priority will be given to those in occupations on the PMSOL.

The 17 occupations (ANZSCO code) on the list are:

  • Chief Executive or Managing Director
  • Construction Project Manager
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Resident Medical Officer
  • Psychiatrist
  • Medical Practitioner nec
  • Midwife
  • Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
  • Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
  • Registered Nurse (Medical)
  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
  • Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
  • Registered Nurses nec
  • Developer Programmer
  • Software Engineer
  • Maintenance Planner

PulseLine advises readers seeking further information about the travel exemption process for those critical skills and sectors, please visit: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/critical-skills-and-sectors[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

RAMSAY CALLS FOR CORPORATE INSUERS TO PASS ON GAINS

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[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

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[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

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[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]

RACGP helping ‘missing’ CALD patients access healthcare during COVID-19 pandemic

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It comes following GP concerns about CALD patients avoiding medical care due to fear of the COVID-19 virus, while also bearing the brunt of the pandemic, including increased mental health symptoms, isolation and loneliness.

The RACGP’s Expert Advice Matters campaign is encouraging CALD patients to keep looking after their heath during the COVID-19 pandemic and consult their GP for any health concerns.

A website for patients has been translated into the most commonly spoken languages other than English, including Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Hindi and Vietnamese. The websites include practical information for patients on how they can safely access care from a GP, including telehealth and telephone consultations featuring free interpreters. You can view the websites here: https://www.expertadvicematters.com.au/

GPs are helping to spread the message by sharing videos of themselves speaking in different languages, urging patients not to delay routine healthcare and explaining how they can safely consult with their GP. You can find the videos on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKg37k2DuVFPDvTWVer3SyZBK31R80BvE

RACGP spokesperson Dr Lara Roeske said more needed to be done to reach CALD patients missing out on healthcare.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, CALD communities in Australia already faced health inequalities and barriers to accessing healthcare including language and health literacy issues.”

Evidence suggests migrants, particularly those newly arrived, use health services less. The National Health Survey found that of those arriving in Australia between 2009 and 2015, 74%had visited a GP in the last 12 months, compared to the Australian-born population total of 86 per cent.

Dr Roeske said the pandemic had magnified the problems.

“The pandemic has only made matters worse – many patients are avoiding seeing their GP because they’re afraid of the virus and don’t know about or feel comfortable using telehealth.

“With all the rapidly changing health information and changes to the way patients can access care, it’s not surprising that some don’t know how they can safely access healthcare and are putting off important appointments. We need to fix this now.

“I’m very concerned that patients delaying care could face worse problems down the track. Particularly given some CALD communities have higher rates of chronic disease and need regular routine health checks to stay well.

“This is why it’s so important that we get the message to CALD communities that you need to keep taking care of your health during the pandemic, and there are safe ways to get the expert care you need.

“We need to do better to communicate to CALD patients, and provide information that’s translated and culturally appropriate. The extension of the RACGP’s Expert Advice Matter’s campaign to CALD communities aims to do just that.

“My advice for patients is this: if you’ve delayed an appointment or have a new health concern, don’t wait any longer – your GP is here to help, book an appointment today.”

7 Tips for Safer Healthcare

  •  don’t delay healthcare, call your GP for any concerns
  • you can consult your GP on the phone or via video technology. Telehealth appointments are bulk billed for concession card holders, under 16s and vulnerable
  • if you need an interpreter, call the Australian Government’s FREE Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS) Ph 131450.
  • you can get a prescription from your GP on the phone or video and collect the medicine from a pharmacy
  • it’s safe to visit your GP in person if you need to – clinics have made changes to protect you from COVID-19 including physical distancing and regular
  • patients in Victoria must wear a face mask or covering when visiting their GP. Patients living in other areas with community transmission are also advised to wear a mask when visiting the GP
  • if you have COVID-19 symptoms (cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, fever or chills or loss of smell or taste) get tested right away and self-isolate until you get the

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Revealed: Private Health Insurers Profiteering From COVID-19

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[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]

AMERICANISATION OF AUSTRALIAN HEALTHCARE?

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Medibank says the investment is part of the corporation’s broader strategy to “support hospitals and doctors” by having patients recuperate at home, rather than in hospital.

Federal president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), – the organisation representing Australian doctors – Omar Khorshid, has raised the alarm of Medibank’s acquisition in The Australian newspaper this week.

Mr Khorshid told The Australian he was seeking a briefing with Medibank about the acquisition and how it would protect the clinical independence of the hospital.

“While I’m sure Medibank will give us a lot of assurances regarding clinical independence and the doctors and patients making decisions, the reality is once you own the hospital an insurer has vastly more control of what goes on in the hospital, whether it be who works there, how much is charged and the particular model of care and how patients are treated,” Mr Khorshid told The Australian.

Many Australians do not support the Americanisation of Australia’s healthcare system, which in the United States, can costs tens of thousands of dollars and leave the most vulnerable of society without basic healthcare.

Last year corporate health insurance lobby group, Private Healthcare Australia (PHA) called for the Government to consider to privatising healthcare in Australia by incentivising large corporations to take out health insurance for employees – as is done in the United States – taking away people’s choices about healthcare.

PHA’s Chief Executive, Rachel David, called the proposal “modest” and said it “would put the private health insurance industry within reach of young people who will benefit from healthcare services not readily available to them in the public sector”.

At the time, the Doctors Reform Society (DRF) President, Dr Tim Woodruff, slammed the proposal and questioned why private health insures wanted these changes.

Dr Woodruff said the proposal was an attempt by corporate health insurers to get more taxpayer support for themselves to make more profits.

“The majority of Australians don’t have private health insurance because it’s a bad product,” Dr Woodruff said.

It is unclear yet what effect Medibank’s hospital acquisition will have on clinician choice or patient outcomes, but many still remain concerned and questioning whether Australians can afford to import the type of americanised healthcare that has left so many American families struggling.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

APPLES & ORANGES OF PRICE

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Like any product or service, the price for medical devices will vary from one country to another. For example, the price of a Toyota Sedan in Australia is going to be different from the price for the same Toyota Sedan in the United States or Europe due to a range of factors.

So why is this so for medical devices? Well let’s look at the top five factors influencing price:

  1. DIFFERENT HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

The differences between healthcare systems from country to country, including different political, policy and economic drivers, has a significant impact on the price of devices. Countries, such the UK and Canada, that appear to have comparable healthcare systems to Australia are, when analysed in greater depth, actually quite different.

Let’s take Canada for example. Based on the OECD health expenditure statics (including PHI as a percentage of total healthcare expenditure and the proportion of population covered by PHI), Canada appears to have a similar healthcare structure to Australia’s. However, unlike in Australia, Canada does not have a private market for prostheses due to the fact it does not allow private health insurers to cover services provided by Canada’s public healthcare system, including hospital procedures that include prostheses.

In contrast, Australia’s healthcare system does allow for this, meaning there is a private and a public market for prostheses.

 PURCHASING ARRANGEMENTS AND MARKET SEGMENTATION DIFFERENCES

Purchasing arrangements for medical devices also vary from country to country. The greater a country’s level of market integration, the greater the capacity they will have to purchase devices at lower prices through improved economies of scale and market volume guarantees for MedTech companies.

For example, in Sweden, there is negligible PHI coverage of the population due to the fact Sweden’s healthcare system is integrated to a high degree with county councils being responsible for both the financing and organisation of healthcare services. Counties also own and operate most of the country’s hospitals. With a healthcare system that is essentially 100% publicly owned and operated, Sweden is able to centrally purchase prostheses through a small number of entities.

  1. DIFFERENCES IN VOLUME, MEDICAL PRACTICE AND PATIENT NEED

Some countries undertake certain procedures using medical devices more frequently than others. For example, according to the OECD Health at a Glance 2013, Germany conducts almost twice as many coronary angioplasty procedures per 100,000 compared to Australia – not to mention Germany’s population is four times that of Australia’s. This means the significantly greater volume of devices associated with coronary angioplasty procedures being required in Germany, compared to here in Australia, results in lower prices of those prostheses for Germans.

  1. DIFFERENCES IN ECONOMIES & GEOGRAPHY

Local economic costs can also add to the price difference for medical devices from country to country. Local costs in Australia such as wages, transportation costs (petrol, airfares), facility costs (coupled with the higher need for warehousing in Australia), currency fluctuation and exchange rates can all influence the price of devices.

Geographical considerations can also influence the price of medical devices. Australia’s isolated location, its low population density and vast land mass have a significant impact on the cost of importing devices and distributing them across Australia.

  1. LEVEL OF INDUSTRY SUPPORT SERVICES

The level of service required from a MedTech company can vary from country to country, and from one prosthesis category to the next. This can impact on the price attributed to a particular prosthesis.

For example, in some European countries, companies do not provide post-procedure follow-up technical support services for certain device types. Funding for these services is allocated to clinicians in the hospital with support from highly trained staff. Therefore, these services are provided with little support from MedTech companies. This is also the case in the Australian public healthcare system.

In contrast, the private markets in Australia, United States and in Japan for example, have a high demand for MedTech companies to provide support services. In Australia, the cost of this support over the life-time of a device is factored into the prosthesis’ benefit.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]