Senate inquiry needs to look at the bigger picture

The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) acknowledges the announcement today by Senator Nick Xenophon and Senator Stirling Griff of plans to establish a Senate inquiry into the medical devices industry.

The MTAA welcome the opportunity to inform the Senate inquiry, however, a process is currently underway that will deliver reform and improved transparency around the benefit setting arrangements for medical devices.

Medical devices account for only 14 cents in every dollar paid in reimbursements by private health insurers under their hospital cover policies. If the Senators are serious about the pressure on private health insurance they need to look at the other 86 cents in every dollar driving up health insurance premiums.

Without gaining a holistic understanding of the healthcare continuum there is a risk the Senate will make inaccurate recommendations that compromise the private healthcare system. The MTAA urges the Senate to expand the terms of reference to include the wider costs of private healthcare in Australia.

Andrea Kunca, co-lead of the Medical Technology Association of Australia said:

“There have been a number of misleading and false claims put in the public arena in regards to the medical device industry. A Senate inquiry will allow these false claims to be answered once and for all.

“From the MTAA's perspective we look forward to presenting the facts rather than anecdotal misinformation put forward by some.

“The medical devices account for only 14 cents in every dollar paid in reimbursements by private health insurers under their hospital cover policies. If the Senate was serious about looking at pressures in the private health system then it should look at the other 86 cents in every dollar driving up health insurance premiums.

“We’ve been, and remain, fully supportive of the Government’s efforts to achieve lasting and meaningful fact based reform of medical device benefits. 

“The MTAA believes the expanded Prostheses List Advisory Committee and new Private Health Ministerial Advisory Committee announced by the Government working with all stakeholders is the right vehicle to progressing this work to deliver long-term evidence based reform.

“Unfortunately some stakeholders have sought to compromise that process which seeks to ensure Australians have access to the latest medical technologies.”