On 21 September 2021, the ACCC authorised Honeysuckle Health and nib Health Funds (ASX: NHF) to form and operate a health services buying group.
The authorisation has been granted with a condition that major insurers are not allowed to join the buying group and the authorisation will be reviewed after 5 years. This decision was upheld by the Competition Tribunal in August 2022. Click here to learn more
Despite these limitations the ASA remains strongly opposed to any arrangement whereby a health fund or broker collectively negotiates and administers contracts with healthcare providers. We believe this decision will result in lower quality healthcare for Australians.
Bundled Care models where the services provided by various healthcare providers (eg. surgeon, anaesthetist, radiology and allied health) are all ‘bundled’ together by a private health insurer or broker to obtain a single fee for the patient is Managed Care.
Please log in here to Listen to more members-only Managed Care episodes.
Managed Care What is it and what does it mean for me?:
ASA members can access more Managed Care webinars below:
Read, ‘Three’s a crowd: Third Party Payers and Bundled Medical Care’ by Dr Peter Waterhouse, from the June edition of Australian Anaesthetist.
(Members can read the full edition here).
Myth Busting Fact Sheet
And continue the conversation on the ASA Forum
ASA members can access further information here
Now is a good time to consider supporting the ASA by becoming a member.