Submissions

Financial & Tax Practices of For-Profit Aged Care Providers

Published: 2018 Aged Care/Health of Older People Primary Health Care

As a result of takeover activity during the past decade, a small number of major private providers are now responsible for the accommodation of tens of thousands of aged care residents, and the stewardship of billions of dollars of refundable accommodation payments.

Independent Review: Accreditation Systems within the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for Health Professions

Published: 2017 Quality and Safety in Health Care

Our submission to this review centres on the consumer perspective around these key issues, with a particular focus on the first legislated objective of the National Law: public safety and professional quality.

ACT Health: Adult Mental Health Day Service Model of Care

Published: 2017 Health Directorate Mental Health Quality and Safety in Health Care

The AMHDS principles of care include “person and family centred” and “safety and quality”, two elements that are very important to the Health Care Consumers’ Association. These principles are also consistent with the principles of trauma-informed care, the Picker Principles of Patient-Centred Care and the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.

Options for Assessing Performance against Aged Care Quality Standards

Published: 2017 Aged Care/Health of Older People Quality and Safety in Health Care

Consumers and their families are making important choices about residential aged care facilities, which have many significant implications for their lives. Consumers should be able to access as much information as possible about the quality and performance of services in order to support their decision making process.

Review: Urgent After-Hours Primary Care Services Funded through the MBS

Published: 2017 Primary Health Care

HCCA would like to emphasise that consumers do not choose and attribute the Medicare item number to a service. However, consumers’ needs and preferences should be considered in making any changes to the system. Without sufficiently understanding consumer need for health care after-hours, it is difficult to say whether restricting…

Draft National Maternity Framework

Published: 2017 Primary Health Care

Overall, HCCA consumers felt that the Draft National Framework for Maternity Services appears to be strong in its vision, values and principles, and recognises the importance of equitable access to woman-centred, culturally safe, evidence-based care. The framework approach gives a more flexible model for service delivery planning than a more…

Commonwealth Department of Health: Options to Reduce Pressure on Private Health Insurance Premiums Paper

Published: 2017 Out-of-Pocket Costs

This submission responds to an Options paper on reducing pressure on private health insurance premiums by addressing the growth of private patients in public hospitals. HCCA's feedback comes from consulting with consumers.

ACQSHC: Consultation on Patient Safety & Quality Improvement in Primary Care

Published: 2017 Primary Health Care Quality and Safety in Health Care

There is no doubt that the quality and safety of health services is important to consumers, HCCA members and the broader community. Consumers are keen to partner with health services to help ensure good communication, shared decision making, coordination of services, and to reduce the incidence of preventable patient harm…

Senate Inquiry on Private Health Insurance

Published: 2017 Inquiries Out-of-Pocket Costs Quality and Safety in Health Care

It’s hard for consumers to know what is covered by their private health insurance. Policies are complex and hard to compare, both for value for money and to minimise out-of-pocket costs. HCCA members have had a variety of experiences with purchasing and/or using private health insurance. This reflects a range…

Senate Inquiry into the Medical Complaints Process in Australia

Published: 2016 Inquiries Quality and Safety in Health Care

HCCA is pleased to provide this submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Medical Complaints Process in Australia. Robust and accessible complaints processes are essential to the delivery of a high quality, safe, Australian health system that meets health consumers’ needs and is valued by us.