Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Senate Community Affairs References Committee (committee), Price regulation associated with the Prostheses List Framework, May 2017, p. 63.

[2]        NSW Council of Social Service, Submission 7, pp. 12, 22; Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, pp. 3, 5–6.

[3]        Department of Health (Department), Submission 127, p. 34.

[4]        Submission 127, p. 34.

[5]        Submission 127, p. 34.

[6]        Submission 127, p. 34.

[7]        Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA), Submission 80, p. 12.

[8]        Catholic Health Australia, Submission 238, [p. 10].

[9]        Submission 238, [p. 10].

[10]      Submission 238, [p. 10].

[11]      Department, Submission 127, p. 26.

[12]      Submission 127, p. 24.

[13]      Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs, Private Health Insurance Bill 2006 [Provisions] and 6 related bills, February 2007.

[14]      Committee, Out-of-pocket costs in Australian healthcare, August 2014.

[15]      Productivity Commission, Efficiency in Health, Research Paper, April 2015.  

[16]      Productivity Commission, Efficiency in Health, Research Paper, April 2015, pp. 70–71.

[17]      The Hon. Sussan Ley MP, former Minister for Health, 'New Committee to provide recommendation on private health insurance reform', Media release, 8 September 2017, http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2016-ley056.htm (accessed 6 December 2017).

[18]      The Hon. Sussan Ley MP, 'New Committee to provide recommendations of private health insurance reform', Media release, 8 September 2017.

[19]      Department, Submission 127—Attachment 1, [pp. 1–2].

[20]      Submission 127—Attachment 2, [p. 1]. 

[21]      Department, Submission 127, p. 2.

[22]      NIB, Submission 24, p. 10.

[23]      Submission 24, p. 10.

[24]      Journals of the Senate, No. 37, 29 March 2017, p. 1220.

[25]      Journals of the Senate, No. 71, 16 November 2017, p. 2252.

[26]      The committee's inquiry website can be located at: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Privatehealthinsurance (accessed 8 December 2017). 

Chapter 2 - Consumers

[1]        Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), Submission 3, pp. 9–10; Breast Cancer Network Australia, Submission 12, pp. 6–7; Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Submission 11, pp. 3–5; Commonwealth Ombudsman, Submission 19, p. 5; Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 6.

[2]        Mr John Biviano, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 9; Choice, Submission 207, pp. 13–16; Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 24.

[3]        Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Communicating changes to private health insurance benefits: A report to the Australian Senate on anti-competitive and other practices by health insurers and providers in relation to private health insurance: For the period 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015, p. 35; RACP, Submission 11, p. 3.

[4]        Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 6.

[5]        Commonwealth Ombudsman, Submission 19, p. 5; Choice, Submission 207, p. 13.

[6]        Choice, Submission 207, p. 13.

[7]        Commonwealth Ombudsman, Submission 19, p. 5.

[8]        Choice, Submission 207, p. 13 (brackets in original).

[9]        RACP, Submission 11, p. 3.

[10]      Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA), Submission 80, p. 12.

[11]      Department of Health (Department), Submission 127, p. 20.

[12]      AHHA, Submission 3, p. 11.

[13]      Day Hospitals Australia, Submission 91, p. 5.

[14]      AHHA, Submission 3, pp. 3–4; Breast Cancer Network Australia, Submission 12, pp. 4–5.

[15]      Breast Cancer Network Australia, Submission 12, p. 4 (brackets in original).

[16]      Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 11.

[17]      COTA Australia, Submission 88, p. 6.

[18]      Dr Michael Gannon, President, Australian Medical Association (AMA), Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 32.

[19]      Dr Gannon, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 32.

[20]      AMA, Submission 58, p. 9.

[21]      Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 9.

[22]      Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 11.

[23]      Submission 18, p. 11.

[24]      Submission 18, p. 12.

[25]      Submission 18, p. 12.

[26]      Ms Alison Verhoeven, Chief Executive, AHHA, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 20.

[27]      Ms Verhoeven, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 20.

[28]      Ms Verhoeven, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 20.

[29]      HBF, Submission 63, p. 6.

[30]      Submission 63, p. 6.

[31]      Submission 63, p. 6.

[32]      Ms Verhoeven, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 21.

[33]      Ms Verhoeven, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 21.

[34]      Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations and National Association of People with HIV Australia, Submission 59, p. 3.

[35]      Australian Dental Prosthetists Association, Submission 77, [p. 1].

[36]      Submission 77, [p. 1].

[37]      Mr Biviano, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 10.

[38]      Mr Biviano, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 10; RACS and Medibank Private, Surgical Variance Report 2017: General Surgery, p. 2.

[39]      See for example RACS and Medibank Private, Surgical Variance Report 2017: General Surgery, pp. 13–20.

[40]      Dr Rachel David, Chief Executive Officer, Private Healthcare Australia, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 48.

[41]      Mr Biviano, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 10.

[42]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 18.

[43]      Dr Duckett, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 15.

[44]      Mr Biviano, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 13. 

[45]      AHHA, Submission 3, p. 3; Combined Pensioners & Superannuants of NSW, Submission 15, p. 9; Haemophilia Foundation Australia, Submission 50, p. 7; Cancer Council Australia, Submission 54, p. 5.

[46]      Lynch Syndrome Australia, Submission 55, p. 2.

[47]      Ms Verhoeven, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 21; AHHA, Submission 3, p. 3; Grattan Institute, Submission 72, p. 13. See also Combined Pensioners & Superannuants of NSW, Submission 15, p. 9.

[48]      Department, Submission 127—Attachment 2, [p. 8].

[49]      The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), Submission 51; Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), Submission 70; Australian Society of Ophthalmologists, Submission 71.

[50]      ANMF, Submission 70, [p. 10].

[51]      Choice, Submission 207, p. 33.

[52]      ANMF, Submission 70, [p. 8].

[53]      Mr Biviano, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 10; Ms Verhoeven, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 22; Mr Michael Roff, Chief Executive Officer, APHA, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 42; Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW, Submission 15, pp. 6–7; Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, pp. 35–36; HBF, Submission 63, p. 4; ANMF, Submission 70, [pp. 9–10]; Australian Physiotherapy Association, Submission 74, p. 3.

[54]      Choice, Submission 207, p. 33; Private Health Insurers Intermediaries Association, Submission 221, [pp. 8–9].

[55]      RANZCOG, Submission 51, p. 5; National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (NASOG), Submission 83, pp. 3–4.

[56]      RANZCOG, Submission 51, p. 5.

[57]      Dr David, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 56; Dr Dwayne Crombie, Managing Director, Private Health Insurance, Bupa Australia, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 56.

[58]      ANMF, Submission 70, p. 17; National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA), Submission 48; Optometry Australia, Submission 8; Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH), Submission 61; Name withheld, Submission 128, p. 3; Australian Physiotherapy Association, Submission 74.

[59]      NRHA, Submission 48, p. 3.

[60]      NRHA, Submission 48, p. 1.

[61]      Submission 48, p. 1.

[62]      Submission 48, p. 4.

[63]      Submission 48, p. 4.

[64]      ANMF, Submission 70, p. 17.

[65]      Submission 70, p. 17.

[66]      SARRAH, Submission 61, p. 5.

[67]      Submission 61, p. 5.

[68]      Australian Physiotherapy Association, Submission 75, p. 10.

[69]      ANMF, Submission 70, p. 18.

[70]      SARRAH, Submission 61, p. 5.

[71]      Department, Submission 127—Attachment 1, [p. 1].

[72]      Allied Health Professions Australia, Submission 52.

[73]      Submission 52, p. 4.

[74]      Breast Cancer Network Australia, Submission 12, p. 3.

[75]      Haemophilia Foundation Australia, Submission 50, p. 5.

[76]      Submission 50, p. 5.

[77]      Submission 50, p. 6.

[78]      Parkinson's Australia, Submission 1, p. 2.

[79]      Parkinson's Australia, Submission 1, p. 2.

[80]      Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Submission 9, p. 2.

[81]      Submission 9, p. 2.

[82]      AHHA, Submission 3, p. 10.

[83]      Ms Doris Gibb, Acting Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 1.

[84]      Mr David McGregor, Director, Private Health Insurance, Commonwealth Ombudsman, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 1–2.

[85]      Mr McGregor, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 2.

[86]      Mr McGregor, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 2.

[87]      AHHA, Submission 3, p. 10; Mr Shaun Gath, Submission 5, p. 28.

[88]      Mr McGregor, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 2. The other independent website is run by the Australian Consumers' Association.

[89]      Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association (PHIIA), Submission 221, [p. 3].

[90]      Submission 221, [p. 3].

[91]      National Seniors Australia, Submission 86, p. 6.

[92]      Department, Submission 127—Attachment 1, [p. 2].

[93]      Submission 127—Attachment 2, [p. 9].

[94]      Submission 127—Attachment 2, [p. 5].

[95]      Mr Ian Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 6; Mr Ian Yates, Chief Executive Officer, COTA Australia, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, pp. 8, 11; Ms Leanne Wells, Chief Executive Officer, Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 12; Dr Gannon, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 32; Dr David, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 48.

[96]      Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 39.

[97]      AHHA, Submission 3, p. 10.

[98]      Mr Charles Maskell-Knight, Principal Adviser, Department, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 73.

[99]      NASOG, Submission 83, [p. 3].

[100]    Prof Steve Robson, President, RANZCOG, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 34.

[101]    Dr Duckett, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 14; Dr Kym Jenkins, President, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 34.

[102]    Dr Duckett, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 20.

[103]    Mr Maskell-Knight, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 71.

Chapter 3 - Private health insurance premiums

[1]        For more discussion of affordability for consumers see Chapter 2.

[2]        Mr Charles Maskell-Knight, Principal Adviser, Department of Health (Department), Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 72; Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 25; NIB, Submission 24, p. 2; HBF, Submission 63, pp. 7–10.

[3]        Australian Healthcare Reform Alliance, Submission 67, [p. 2].

[4]        Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA), Submission 80—Attachment 2, p. 9.

[5]        Johnson and Johnson Medical Pty Ltd (Johnson and Johnson), Submission 62, p. 3. See also Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 25; NIB, Submission 24, p. 2; HBF, Submission 63, p. 7.

[6]        APHA, Submission 80—Attachment 2, p. 9.

[7]        Submission 80—Attachment 2, p. 9.

[8]        Submission 80—Attachment 2, p. 9.

[9]        Submission 80—Attachment 2, p. 9.

[10]      Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 14.

[11]      Ms Alison Verhoeven, Chief Executive, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 19; Ms Penny Shakespeare, Acting Deputy Secretary, Health Benefits Group, Department, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 72; Bupa Australia, Submission 43, p. 3; Johnson and Johnson, Submission 62, p. 4; HBF, Submission 63, p. 7; Australian Physiotherapy Association, Submission 74, p. 21.

[12]      APHA, Submission 80—Attachment 2, p. 9.

[13]      Mr Maskell-Knight, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 72.

[14]      Grattan Institute, Submission 72, p. 7.

[15]      Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 36.

[16]      Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 9.

[17]      Mr Matthew Koce, Chief Executive Officer, hirmaa, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 29.

[18]      Dr Michael Gannon, President, Australian Medical Association (AMA), Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 31.

[19]      APHA, Submission 80—Attachment 2, p. 8.

[20]      Submission 80—Attachment 2, p. 8.

[21]      Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA), Submission 2, p. 27; Haemotology Federation of Australia, Submission 50, p. 7; Bupa Australia, Submission 43, pp. 11–12.

[22]      Mr Michael Roff, Chief Executive Officer, APHA, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 44.

[23]      Bupa Australia, Submission 43, p. 11.

[24]      Dr Gannon, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 37; Council of Procedural Specialists, Submission 41, [p. 1].

[25]      Dr Gannon, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 37.

[26]      Department, Submission 127, p. 3.

[27]      Dr Gannon, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 37.

[28]      Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), 'Financial performance', Private Health Insurance Operations Report 2015–16, http://www.apra.gov.au/PHI/Publications/Pages/
Operations-of-Private-Health-Insurers-Annual-Report.aspx (accessed 9 November 2017).

[29]      APRA, 'Financial performance', Private Health Insurance Operations Report 2016–17, http://www.apra.gov.au/PHI/Publications/Pages/Operations-of-Private-Health-Insurers-Annual-Report.aspx (accessed 9 November 2017).

[30]      Dr Gannon, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 32.

[31]      Mr Ian Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 2.

[32]      APRA, 'Financial performance', Private Health Insurance Operations Report 2015–16; APRA, 'Financial performance', Private Health Insurance Operations Report 2016–17.

[33]      Mr Koce, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 30; Dr Dwayne Crombie, Managing Director, Health Insurance, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 50; Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 6; NIB, Submission 24, p. 4; hirmaa, Submission 75, p. 7.

[34]      Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 7.

[35]      Mr Koce, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 31.

[36]      Dr Crombie, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 50.

[37]      Mr Koce, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 32; Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 18; Mr Shaun Gath, Submission 5, p. 14.

[38]      Mr Koce, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 32.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 18.

[40]      Dr Crombie, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, pp. 51–52.

[41]      Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 52.

[42]      Dr Rachel David, Chief Executive Officer, Private Healthcare Australia, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 51.

[43]      Choice, Comparing the comparators, https://www.choice.com.au/money/insurance/insurance-advice/articles/insurance-comparison-sites (accessed 30 November 2017).

[44]      Bupa Australia, Submission 43, p. 19.

[45]      Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association (PHIIA), Submission 221, [p. 2].

[46]      Bupa Australia, Submission 43, p. 19.

[47]      Submission 43, p. 20.

[48]      PHIIA, Submission 221, [p. 4].

[49]      Department, Submission 127, p. 1.

[50]      Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (Cth), s. 55-5; Department, Submission 127, p. 2.

[51]      Department, Submission 127, p. 2; Explanatory Memorandum, Private Health Insurance Bill 2006, cl. 55-1.

[52]      Productivity Commission, Efficiency in Health, April 2015, p. 68.

[53]      Department, Submission 127, p. 2. 

[54]      Department, Submission 127, p. 2.

[55]      See for example: Ms Leanne Wells, Chief Executive Officer, Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, pp. 7, 10; Dr Gannon, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 32; Dr Crombie, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 50; AHHA, Submission 3, p. 16; Australian Association of Practice Management, Submission 16, p. 4; Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 4. For submitters that considered that some amendment could be required see: Mr Shaun Gath, Submission 5, pp. 15–17; Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 10.

[56]      Department, Submission 127, p. 24.

[57]      Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (Cth), s. 22-15.

[58]      Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (Cth), s. 22-15.

[59]      Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), Submission 49, p. 4; Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 52; Australian Health Care Reform Alliance, Submission 67, [pp. 2–3]; Grattan Institute, Submission 72, p. 5.

[60]      Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, pp. 6–7; PHAA, Submission 49, p. 4.

[61]      Grattan Institute, Submission 72, p. 18.

[62]      Submission 72, p. 19.

[63]      Submission 72, p. 25.

[64]      Mr Koce, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 28. The base tier rebate for under 65-year-olds is currently 25.934 per cent.

[65]      Mr Koce, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 28.

[66]      Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (Cth), s. 66-10(3).

[67]      Mr Shaun Gath, Submission 5, p. 18 (emphasis in original).

[68]      Dr Duckett, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 17.

[69]      Department, Submission 127, p. 24.

[70]      Submission 127, p. 24.

[71]      Submission 127, p. 26.

[72]      Submission 127, p. 26; Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (Cth), ss. 31-1, 34-10.

[73]      Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 16.

[74]      Choice, Submission 207, p. 9.

[75]      Submission 207, p. 10.

[76]      Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 37; NIB, Submission 24, p. 2; Bupa Australia, Submission 43, p. 25.

[77]      Dr Marcin Sowa, Dr Joshua Byrnes and Prof Paul Scuffham, Submission 106, p. 7. See also Mr Koce, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 28.

[78]      Mr Louis Serret, Acting Executive General Manager, Specialised Institutions Division, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 65.

[79]      NIB, Submission 24, p. 2. See also Bupa Australia, Submission 43, pp. 25–26.

[80]      NIB, Submission 24, p. 2; Bupa Australia, Submission 43, pp. 25–26.

[81]      Department, Submission 127—Attachment 1, [p. 1].

[82]      Submission 127—Attachment 1, [p. 1].

[83]      Submission 127—Attachment 2, [p. 11].

[84]      Dr Duckett, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 14.

[85]      Dr Duckett, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 16.

[86]      Dr David, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 56.

[87]      Mr Maskell-Knight, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 70.

[88]      Dr David, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 58; Dr Crombie, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 58.

[89]      Mr Maskell-Knight, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 72.

[90]      Mr Koce, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 30.

[91]      Community Affairs References Committee (Committee), Price regulation associated with the Prostheses List Framework, May 2017, pp. 3–4.

[92]      Committee, Price regulation associated with the Prostheses List Framework, May 2017.

[93]      Mr  Burgess, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 3; Department, Submission 127—Attachment 2, [p. 13].

[94]      Mr Koce, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 30.

[95]      Committee, Price regulation associated with the Prostheses List Framework, May 2017, p. 63 (Recommendation 16).

[96]      The Hon. Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, 'Turnbull Government to ease pressure on private health insurance premiums', Media release, 19 October 2016.

[97]      Australian Government, Australian Government response to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee report: Pricing regulation associated with the Prostheses List framework, September 2017, [p. 4] (tabled 14 September 2017).

[98]      Department, Submission 127—Attachment 2, [p. 13].

[99]      Submission 127—Attachment 2, [p. 13].

[100]    Submission 127—Attachment 2, [p. 13].

[101]    Mr Burgess, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 2.

[102]    Dr Duckett, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 17.

[103]    Dr David, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 53. See also Dr Crombie, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 53.

[104]    Mr Serret, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 64.

[105]    Mr Serret, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 65.

[106]    Mr Maskell-Knight, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 72.

[107]    Mr Serret, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, pp. 64–65.

Chapter 4 - Using private health insurance

[1]        National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA), Submission 48, p. 6; HBF, Submission 63, p. 10; Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Submission 69, [p. 3]; Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), Submission 70, [p. 5]; Day Hospitals Australia, Submission 91, p. 3; Ramsay Healthcare, Submission 190, [p. 3].

[2]        Amanda Biggs, Private Health Insurance: a quick guide, 4 August 2017, p. 2 http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/5434084/upload_binary/5434084.pdf (accessed 27 November 2017).

[3]        Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA), Submission 2, p. i.

[4]        Submission 2, pp. 9–10.

[5]        IHPA, Submission 2, p. 29.

[6]        Submission 2, p. 29.

[7]        Submission 2, p. 5.

[8]        IHPA, Submission 2, p. 8.

[9]        Submission 2, p. 13.

[10]      Submission 2, p. 13.      

[11]      Submission 2, p. 16.

[12]      Submission 2, p. 23.

[13]      Submission 2, p. 23.

[14]      Submission 2, p. 23

[15]      Submission 2, p. 14.

[16]      Submission 2, p. 15.

[17]      IHPA, Submission 2, p. 15.

[18]      Submission 2, p. 19.

[19]      Submission 2, p. 19.

[20]      Submission 2, p. 19.

[21]      Submission 2, p. 20.

[22]      Submission 2, p. 21.

[23]      Submission 2, p. 21.

[24]      Submission 2, p. 24.

[25]      Submission 2, p. 25.

[26]      IHPA, Submission 2, p. 27. The report provides job advertisements for roles in NSW and Tasmania.

[27]      Submission 2, p. 28.

[28]      Haemotology Federation of Australia, Submission 50, p. 1.

[29]      Submission 50, p. 7. 

[30]      Consumers' Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 7; Bupa Australia, Submission 43, pp. 11–12.

[31]      Submission 17, p. 8 (capitalisation in original).

[32]      Bupa Australia, Submission 43, pp. 11–12.

[33]      Submission 43, p. 12.

[34]      Choice, Submission 207, p. 10; Consumers' Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 7.

[35]      Submission 207, p. 8.

[36]      Submission 207, pp. 10–11. 

[37]      Consumers' Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 7.

[38]      Department of Health (Department), Submission 127, p. 10.

[39]      Department, Submission 127, p. 10 (emphasis added).

[40]      Mr Charles Maskell-Knight, Principal Adviser, Department, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 68.

[41]      Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Submission 68, p. 3.

[42]      Submission 68, p. 4 (capitalisation in original).

[43]      Council of Procedural Specialists, Submission 41, [p. 6]; Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation, Submission 53, [p. 2]; Grattan Institute, Submission 72, p. 24; hirmma, Submission 75, p. 22; Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA), Submission 80, p. 7; National Seniors, Submission 86, p. 2; COTA Australia, Submission 88, pp. 5–6; Catholic Health Australia, Submission 238, p. iii.

[44]      Submission 68, p. 4.

[45]      Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), Submission 3, p. 8.

[46]      Queensland Government, Submission 85, [p. 5].

[47]      Consumers' Health Forum of Australia, Submission 17, p. 7.

[48]      AIHW, Private health insurance patients in Australian hospitals, 2006–07 to 2015–16, 6 December 2017, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/hospitals/private-health-insurance-patients-hospitals/contents/table-of-contents (accessed 6 December 2017).

[49]      AIHW, Private health insurance patients in Australian hospitals, 2006–07 to 2015–16, 6 December 2017, p. ix. The classification 'other' was assigned to patients whose separation was self-funded or funded other than by private health insurance or public election. Some examples include funding by the Department of Veterans' Affairs or Department of Defence, part of a worker's compensation or third party motor vehicle claim.

[50]      AIHW, Private health insurance patients in Australian hospitals, 2006–07 to 2015–16, 6 December 2017, p. x (italics and capitalisation in original).

[51]      Queensland Government, Submission 85, [p. 4].

[52]      Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 26.

[53]      Submission 18, p. 26.

[54]      Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 26.

[55]      Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Submission 9, p. 2.

[56]      Dr Rachel David, Chief Executive Officer, Private Healthcare Australia, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 48.

[57]      AHHA, Submission 3, p. 13.

[58]      NIB, Submission 24, p. 2.

[59]      Department, Submission 127, p. 27.

[60]      Submission 127, p. 27.

[61]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 15.

[62]      RACGP, Submission 9, p. 2.

[63]      Submission 9, pp. 2–3.

[64]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 92, [pp. 1–4]; Name withheld, Submission 124, [pp. 1–2]; Name withheld, Submission 256, [p. 1–4].

[65]      See for example Australian Physiotherapy Association, Submission 74, p. 10; Optometry Australia, Submission 8, pp. 3–4.

[66]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 168, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 275, [p. 2].

[67]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 128, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 210, [p. 1].

[68]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 100, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 241, [p. 1].

[69]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 97, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 280, [p. 1].

[70]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 103, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 98, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 137, [p. 1].

[71]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 254, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 229, [p. 1].

[72]      Dr Sachs, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 21; ADA, Rebate Disparity Case Study, [p. 1] (tabled 31 October 2017).

[73]      Dr Sachs, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 21. See for example Name withheld, Submission 155, [pp. 3–4].

[74]      ADA, Submission 222, p. 6. See also for example Name withheld, Submission 145, [p. 5]; Name withheld, Submission 242, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 276, [p. 1].

[75]      Bupa Australia, answer to questions on notice, 31 October 2017 (received 17 November 2017).

[76]      ADA, Information responding to statements made in submissions, submissions responses and answers to questions on notice, [p. 1], received 28November 2017.

[77]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 141, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 214, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 270, [p. 1].

[78]      Name withheld, Submission 119, p. 1; Name withheld, Submission 211, [p. 1].

[79]      Name withheld, Submission 211, [p. 1].

[80]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 253, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 259, [p. 1].

[81]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 102, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 200, [p. 2].

[82]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 130, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 149, [p. 1].

[83]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 179, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 186, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 227, [p. 1].

[84]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 111, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 223, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 246, [p. 2].

[85]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 275, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 194, [p. 2].

[86]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 143, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 264, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 166, [p. 2].

[87]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 131, [p. 3]; Name withheld, Submission 152, [p. 3].

[88]      Mr Adam Longshaw, Director, Health and Benefits, Bupa Australia, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 54.

[89]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 112, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 143, p. 3; Name withheld, Submission 165, [p. 2].

[90]      Name withheld, Submission 111, [p. 3].

[91]      See for example Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Report to the Australian Senate: On anti-competitive and other practices by health insurers and providers in relation to private health insurance for the period 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016, 17 July 2017, https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/private-health-insurance-reports/private-health-insurance-report-2015-16 (accessed 4 December 2017) (Report to the Senate 2015–16). See also Journals of the Senate, No. 27, 25 March 1999, p. 626.

[92]      See for example ACCC, Report to the Senate 2015-16, pp. 28–29; ACCC, Report to the Australian Senate on anti-competitive and other practices by health funds and providers in relation to private health insurance for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011, 6 June 2012, pp. 30–33, https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/private-health-insurance-reports/private-health-insurance-report-2010-11 (accessed 4 December 2017).

[93]      See for example Name withheld, Submission 96, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 99, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 234, [p. 2].

[94]      Name withheld, Submission 205, [p. 5].

[95]      Name withheld, Submission 154, [p. 2].

[96]      Name withheld, Submission 219, [pp. 1–2] (capitalisation in original).

[97]      Australian Association of Paediatric Dentists (AAPD), Submission 25, p. 3.

[98]      Dr Daniel Ford, Treasurer, AAPD, Committee Hansard, 31 October 2017, p. 22.

[99]      AAPD, Submission 25, p. 3.

[100]    Submission 25, p. 3.

[101]    Submission 25, p. 3 (capitalisation in original).

[102]    Submission 25, p. 4.

[103]    AAPD, Submission 25, p. 3.

[104]    Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry, Submission 42, [p. 5].

Chapter 5 - Conclusions

[1]        Department of Health, Submission 127—Attachment 2.

[2]        The Hon. Sussan Ley MP, former Minister for Health, 'Coalition's plan to ensure private health insurance delivers value for money', http://sussanley.com/coalitions-plan-to-ensure-plan-to-ensure-private-health-insurance-delivers-value-for-money/ (accessed 15 December 2017).

[3]        Private Healthcare Australia, Submission 18, p. 12; Ms Alison Verhoeven, Chief Executive, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, Committee Hansard, 5 July 2017, p. 20.

[4]        See Australian Dental Association (ADA), Submission 222, pp. 42–43.

[5]        ADA, Submission 222, p. 49.

[6]        Submission 222, pp. 28–30.

[7]        Submission 222, p. 49.