Policy and advocacy

Home About us What we do Policy and advocacy

We advocate on behalf of our members at a wide range of levels…

The Policy Team represents the ASA and its members by engaging with the professional and economic issues that concern practicing anaesthetists. We work closely with the three advisory committees on initiatives such as the Relative Value Guide, advocacy during the MBS Review, and stakeholder engagements with private health insurers and government. The policy team also takes carriage of the delivery of ASA position statements, submissions on professional issues to government departments, and the provision of patient advisory material.

The ASA Policy Team

The ASA policy team is here to advocate on your behalf. We use experts’ advice to assist you with your billing/RVG queries. We provide advocacy support through engagement, consultation and subsequent submissions to the government. We draft position statements to ensure ASA’s voice is heard. We build allies with other specialist organisations (RACs, AMA, COPS and ANZCA) to lobby on your behalf. We represent ASA’s interest at meetings with health providers, hospital groups, and health funds.

Advocacy and engagement

We actively engage with our stakeholders across the health sector on many issues including:

  • Advocacy regarding insurer-driven schemes in
    Australia including managed care and bundled care
  • Proposed cuts to anaesthesia item rebates for patients
  • Public in Private Hospitals including Elective Surgery
  • Remuneration and Contractual Arrangements
  • Collective Bargaining Class Exemption
  • Submissions to the ACCC
  • MBS compliance activity regarding co-claiming, time compliance and other issues