Footnotes

Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Journals of the Senate, No. 31–17 June 2014, pp 888-889.

[2]        Journals of the Senate, No. 26–27 March 2014, p. 749.

[3]        Explanatory Memorandum (EM), p. 2.

[4]        An asterix preceding a term–for example '*private health insurance'–denotes that the term is defined in the Dictionary in Schedule 1 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007. Other examples of preferential treatment might include earlier access to appointments or access to cheaper appointments: see EM, p. 2.

[5]        Proposed new subsection 105.5(2) of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.

[6]        Senate Hansard, 27 March 2014, p. 2268.

[7]        The Department of Health noted however that there are other private health insurers who have engaged external providers to arrange GP services for their members (HCF, Bupa, Healthscope): see Submission 10, p. 1.

[8]        Medibank, Submission 7, p. 5.

[9]        See: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs

Chapter 2 - Key issues

[1]        Senate Hansard, 27 March 2014, p. 2269.

[2]        For example: Bupa Australia, Submission 8, p. 2.

[3]        Submission 7, p. 4.

[4]        Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2013, 'Health expenditure Australia 2011-12', Health and welfare expenditure series 50, Cat. No. HWE 59, Canberra. Also see: Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 6, p. 2.

[5]        Submission 7, pp 4-5.

[6]        Submission 7, p. 5.

[7]        Mr James Connors, Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 2.

[8]        Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 26.

[9]        Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 27.

[10]      Mr Shaun Larkin, Managing Director, Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Ltd. (HCF), Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 31.

[11]      Mr Shaun Larkin, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 32.

[12]      G. Brent Hamar, Elizabeth Y. Rula, Aaron Wells, Carter Coberley, James E. Pope, and Shaun Larkin, Population Health Management, April 2013, 16(2): 125-131. doi:10.1089/pop.2012.0027, available at: http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/pop.2012.0027 (accessed 26 August 2014).

[13]      Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 32.

[14]      Submission 1, p. 2. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) outlined potential areas in which private health funds might play a part, including wellness programs, maintenance of shared electronic health care records, hospital in the home, palliative care, minor procedures, and GP directed hospital avoidance programs. Also see: Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, pp 22‑23.

[15]      Submission 10, p. 2. Also see: Mr Shaun Larkin, HCF, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 31.

[16]      For example: AMA, Submission 1, p. 1; Doctors Reform Society, Submission 4, p. 2.

[17]      Senate Hansard, 27 March 2014, p. 2269.

[18]      Submission 3, p. 2.

[19]      Submission 9, p. 1.

[20]      See: Mr James Connors, Medibank, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 6, who noted that the GP Access program further benefits these members as low income policy holders.

[21]      Submission 6, pp 3-4.

[22]      Mr Dan O'Brien, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Medibank, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 5.

[23]      Ms Natalie Kelly, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development, Medibank, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 5. Mr James Connors noted that Phase 2 of the GP Access program accords with the AMA's   preferred model of PHF involvement in primary care: see Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 5.

[24]      Section 121-10 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007; section 126 of the Health Insurance Act 1973. Both provisions allow for limited exceptions, for example, subsection 126(5A) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 excepts 'hospital treatment' or 'hospital-substitute treatment'.

[25]      Submission 7, p. 5. In addition, Medibank noted that it and participating GPs are highly respectful of regulatory obligations and 'the financial arrangements are well within these requirements': see pp 5-6.

[26]      Submission 10, p. 1. The Department highlighted also that the administrative payments are made from the PHFs' management funds.

[27]      Submission 2, p. 1.

[28]      Mr James Connors, Medibank, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 6.

[29]      Mr Shane Porter, Assistant Secretary, Private Health Insurance Branch, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 37.

[30]      For example: AMA, Submission 1, p. 1; Dr Tim Woodruff, Vice President, Doctors Reform Society, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 9.

[31]      Submission 6, pp 1 and 3.

[32]      Submission 6, p. 2.

[33]      Submission 8, pp 2-3.

[34]      Mr Richard Bartlett, Acting Deputy Secretary, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 42.

[35]      Submission 10, p. 1.

[36]      Submission 8, p. 3.

[37]      Submission 8, p. 3.

[38]      Submission 7, p. 7.

[39]      Mr James Connors, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 2.

[40]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, AMA, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 24.

[41]      The Hon. Dr Michael Armitage, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 29.

[42]      Mr Shane Porter, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 41.

[43]      Mr Richard Bartlett, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 41.

[44]      Mr Richard Bartlett, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 42.

[45]      Mr Richard Bartlett, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 36.

Greens' Senators Dissenting Report -  

[1]        Committee Hansard, 27 March 2014, p. 2268.

[2]        Medibank Private, Submission 7, p. 5.

[3]        Medibank Private, Submission 7.

[4]        Dr Tim Woodruff, Committee Hansard,  p. 8.

[5]        Associate Professor Brian Owler, AMA, Committee Hansard, 20 August2014,  p. 21.

[6]        Dr Tim Woodruff, Doctors Reform Society, Hansard, p 9.

[7]        Submission 5, p. 3.

[8]        Mr Robert Boyd-Boland, Chief Executive Officer, ADA Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014,  p. 15.

[9]        Australian Dental Association, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 17.

[10]      Mrs Irving, Australian Dental Association, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014,  p. 17.

[11]      Mr Rod Wellington, Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2104, p. 12.

[12]      Ms Rebecca Vassarotti, Australian Council of Social Service, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 11.

[13]      Ms Rebecca Vassarotti, Australian Council of Social Service, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 11.

[14]      Consumer Health Forum, Submission 2.

[15]      Doctors Reform Society, Submission 4, p. 2.

[16]      Ms Rebecca Vassarotti, Australian Council of Social Service, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 11.

[17]      Medibank Private,  Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 3.

[18]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, AMA, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p 20.

[19]      Australian Dental Association, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 18.

[20]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, AMA, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p 22.

[21]      Submission 10, p.1.

[22]      Mr James Connors, Committee Hansard, 20 August 2014, p. 2.