Health Systems Reform

As medical specialists, physicians and paediatricians play a major role in the provision of health care in the primary and ambulatory setting, as well as the acute, sub-acute, outpatient, aged and community care settings. A great many benefits can be potentially be gained through the greater involvement of physicians and paediatricians in primary and ambulatory care, especially for chronic and complex illnesses.

First, in the primary and ambulatory setting, physicians and paediatricians can provide health assessments, counselling and management to reduce and prevent lifestyle illness and improve the coordination of care and management of chronic illness. Such involvement could reduce the cost and impact of these conditions on individuals, acute hospital services and the economy.

Second, physicians and paediatricians can play a crucial role in the planning and resourcing of health care, particularly through Medicare Locals in the primary and ambulatory care settings. Medicare Locals, as well as Local Hospital Networks, which are both part of the 2011 COAG health reforms, have an opportunity to plan and resource to reduce avoidable admissions. Reductions in the number of avoidable admissions is a benefit to the entire community, as patients avoid more serious procedures or outcomes, which reduces pressures on both our hospitals and the financial impact on the hospital and the taxpayer.

Also part of the 2011 COAG health reforms are the National and Local Lead Clinician Groups, which have the potential to link Medicare Locals to Local Hospital Networks through their key responsibilities to "assist with service planning and efficient allocation of clinical services" and develop local solutions to local issues. Physicians and paediatricians, at a local level, are well-placed to advise on the operational and systemic linkages between Medicare Locals and Local Hospital Networks because of their presence in all parts of the health care supply chain.

Public health physicians and paediatricians, especially, can play a critical role in the population based resourcing and priority setting, as well as the evaluation and monitoring of the performance of Medicare Locals in meeting local health care needs, including preventive health.

Submissions

• Flexible Fund Discussion Papers - Department of Health and Ageing - October 2011
• COAG Hospital Access Targets -  June 2011
• Response to the Commonwealth Government's Position Paper - National Health Reform: Lead Clinicians Groups - June 2011
• National Health Reform Performance Accountability Framework - May 2011
• Lead Clinicians Groups - Feb 2011
• Response to the Commonwealth Government's Medicare Locals Discussion Paper - Dec 2010
• Operation of Health Care Complaints Act 1993 Discussion Paper - NSW Health Committee on Health Care Complaints Commission  - Oct 2009 (PDF 158KB)
• Consultation Paper 'Australia's Future Tax System' (Henry Tax Review) May 2009 (PDF 153KB)
• Credentialling Framework for New Zealand Health and Disability Providers, April 2009 (PDF 44KB)
• Review of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, March 2009 (PDF 17KB)
• Review of the Health & Disability Commisioner Act, and the Code of Health & Disability Services Consumers' Rights March 2009 (PDF 24KB) 

National Health and Hospital Reform Commission (NHHRC)

On 25 February 2008, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health and Ageing announced the establishment of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC). The Commission has been established to develop a long-term health reform plan for a modern Australia. More information on the Commission can be found on their website here.

In June 2009 the NHHRC released their Final Report - A Healthier Future for All Australians - which contains its proposed reform directions.

The College provided submissions to the NHHRC in the report developmental stages:

• Supplemental Brief for the NHHRC  - May 2009 (PDF 69KB)
• Submission to the NHHRC Interim Report - 'A Healthier Future for All Australians' - March 2009 (PDF 191KB)

Policies:

• Inequity and Health: a call to action (PDF file: 415KB)

Please contact the Policy and Advocacy Unit for further information: policy@racp.edu.au.